How to Collect Data with Google Forms

by AGParts Education | Google Forms

A Google Form is a great way to gather responses from people. From a one-question form to a long multi-section quiz, a Google Form eliminates the need to decipher and tally responses on sheets of paper. A form also serves as an elegant alternative to asking a group of people questions in email. Google Forms can compile all the standard survey fields—such as text, multiple choice questions, drop downs, linear scales, and grids—to serve all sorts of data collection needs. They can be used to collect contact information on a website, gather inventory data, collect votes, obtain feedback, evaluate a product or service, test knowledge with a quiz, or replace a basic customer intake form. Here are four steps to help you get started with Google Forms.

1. Create Your Questions

First, create your questions. For a short form, such as a web contact form that gathers an email address, name, and message, you can likely draft your questions directly in a Google Form. But for longer surveys or quizzes, I prefer to draft my questions in a Google Doc first. I find this helps me focus on the wording of each question.

2. Create Your Form

In a desktop browser, navigate to Google Forms and select the button the lower right to create a new form. Add a title and description for your form, then enter your questions. Add new questions with the plus button to the right of your form. Add text, images, videos, or section breaks as you wish. Change the question type by choosing an alternative from the dropdown list in the upper right of each question area.

3. Send Your Form

When you’re ready to accept responses, select the “Send” button in the upper right. Then choose from one of six ways to share your form: Email, a link, an embed code (for display on a web page), Google+, Facebook, or Twitter.

4. Receive and Review Responses

You can review responses at least three different ways. On the “Responses” tab in the form, you can view either a summary of responses or see each individual response. Or, select the Google Sheet icon to view data in rows and columns—with timestamps—in spreadsheet format. Source: How to Collect Data with Google Forms: 4 Steps by Andy Wolber, published by Tech Republic

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