Participation scaleCommunity input
Best used forCollecting structured feedback
At a glance
Participants doAnswer a set of questions.
Organizers doWrite clear questions, reach the right people, and review the answers carefully.
ProducesAnswers that can show patterns in views, experiences, or knowledge.
What is Survey?
A survey collects answers through a set of prepared questions.Participants answer the same or similar questions. Their answers can then be compared and reviewed together.Surveys can show patterns in opinions, experiences, or knowledge. The results depend on the quality of the questions and on who participates.
insights
Key takeawayA survey brings individual answers together to show patterns across a group.
Characteristics
Best used forCollecting structured feedback
Participation scaleCommunity input
Target audienceAffected people
Time commitment~5–15 min
Effort requiredLow
Coordination requiredLow
Resource costLow
Participant journey
1. DiscoverFind the opportunity and understand what it is about.
2. LearnRead the background and understand what participation involves.
3. ReviewCheck the request, materials, or details before you act.
4. AnswerRespond to the questions or prompts.
5. SubmitSend your contribution to the organizer or recipient.
6. ConfirmConfirm your contribution, attendance, or commitment.
7. Follow upCheck the outcome and respond if anything else is needed.
Organizer responsibilities
Define the goal
Design the participation method
Prepare materials
Configure the platform
Publish
Recruit participants
Collect results
Review
Evaluate
Communicate the outcome
Quality checklist
Clear objectiveThe purpose and intended result of the participation method are clearly defined.
Defined audienceThe people expected to participate are clearly identified.
Clear instructionsParticipants can understand what to do, how to do it, and when their participation is complete.
Measurable successThe organizer has defined how progress, completion, or results will be assessed.
Privacy consideredOnly necessary personal information is collected, protected, and handled transparently.
AccessibleRelevant physical, digital, language, and other participation barriers have been considered.
InclusiveAffected people have a reasonable opportunity to participate.
Transparent processParticipants can understand how contributions are collected, reviewed, used, and communicated.
Strategic strengths
Makes answers easy to compareParticipants answer the same questions, making patterns and differences easier to see.
Can reach many peopleMany people can respond without needing a separate conversation with each participant.
Provides clear resultsStructured answers can be counted, summarized, and compared.
Practical limitations
Requires documentationInformation, contributions, decisions, or results need to be recorded carefully.
Requires technologyParticipation depends on suitable devices, software, internet access, or technical support.
Requires timeParticipants or organizers need enough time to prepare, contribute, or complete the process.
Depends on public interestThe participation method works better when enough people care about or notice the issue.
Risks & safeguards
Low participationSet realistic participation expectations and plan how to reach the intended audience.
Duplicate contributionsUse suitable controls and review unusual patterns when contribution counts affect the result.
Privacy concernsCollect only necessary participant information and explain clearly how it will be used.
Poor data qualityDefine what information is needed and review contributions for completeness, relevance, and reliability.
MisinformationProvide reliable source material and address important inaccurate claims that could mislead participants.
Resource overloadKeep the scope of participation within the time, people, and resources available to manage it properly.
security
InsightDo not assume survey results represent everyone unless the people who responded were selected in a way that supports this.
Accessibility
Language accessConsider whether translated materials, interpretation, or participation in several languages may be needed.
Clear communicationConsider whether the intended audience can clearly understand the instructions and participation requirements.
Technology barriersConsider whether participation requires devices, software, internet access, or other technology that some people may not have.
Alternative ways to participateConsider whether another way to contribute should be available for people who cannot use the main participation method.
Common mistakes
Unclear goalThe initiative has not clearly defined the result the strategy should support.
Excluding affected peopleRelevant or affected people are left out of planning, participation, or decision-making.
Measuring only numbersSuccess is judged only by counts instead of also considering quality, influence, or lasting results.
Ignoring feedbackParticipant, community, or expert input is collected but not properly considered.
Works well with
FAQ
How many responses does a survey need?There is no single number. It depends on what you want to learn, who the survey is for, and how participants are selected.
Should surveys only use multiple-choice questions?No. Multiple-choice questions are easy to compare, while open questions can give more detailed answers.
Does a survey represent the wider population?Not automatically. It depends on who was invited, who responded, and how the survey was designed.