Single-select matrix question in surveys

What is the single-select matrix question in a survey?

Matrix question types use the most basic pattern for displaying multiple answers in a grid format. These multiple-choice questions presented have a tabular format and are convenient to include in surveys, and more convenient for respondents to answer, view, or interpret. Survey organizers can add questions like this as row choices and provide column choices to collect responses that cover multiple aspects of a particular topic with ease. Very similar to the Likert scale, you pick an option that best suits your response.

Uses of the single-select matrix question in a survey

The most effective and important use of this type of question for researchers is evaluating multiple parameters of a product or a service. When you need to evaluate multiple-choice questions of similar objects, these questions come in handy.

Examples of single-select matrix question in a survey

With single-select questions, it is very convenient to collect information from respondents. Let us consider the below example.

A new restaurant has opened up, and the owner/s want to gather early feedback from their customers. They want to know about the customer experience, what made it good and could possibly be done to improve it. You can include all the parameters that you would want them to rate on in the single-select question text. This will give you a clear idea as to which areas are doing better than others. If you were to include each aspect as an individual question, then the survey would be quite long, and respondents can select not to respond at all.

Using the below rating scale question, you can understand which areas are not doing well and take corrective actions accordingly.

Advantages of the single-select matrix questions

While there are many advantages to these questions, some of the most prominent ones are:

• Takes up less space in a survey: Long surveys are a complete no-no. Longer the surveys, more the drop rate. Even if respondents start surveys, with long surveys, they either quit midway or don’t fill it at all. Single-select matrix questions are such that they take up less space and are easy to answer. With simple checkboxes or drop-downs, the answers are only a ‘single click’.
• Avoid monotony: You can break away from the common and monotonous ‘yes-no’ format questions in your surveys. With single-select, you can use answer choices as a checkbox, text-input, drop-down, etc. Monotonous surveys have very low response rates, use these to counter that issue.
• Quick and easy to respond: Unlike comment boxes, you do not have to input anything in these question types. You simply select an option and move on to the next one. It’s easy, quick, and response rates are high with these types of questions.
• Helpful analytics: Since these questions cover multiple parameters of a service or product, it’s quite easy to identify concerns or shortcomings, if any. You can also easily identify what’s working well and should be continued.

How to use single-select matrix question in surveys

To learn how to use this survey feature, check out our help document on single-select matrix question.