Basic Tips for Creating Surveys

• Decide on the specific purpose of your survey and who your target population 

is. What are you trying to find out? From who?

o Examples may include:

 Program satisfaction from current participants 

 Needs and preferences for services from current participants

 Program outcomes from current participants (e.g., changes in 

dietary intake, shifts in population serving, impact on social 

wellbeing)

 Needs and preferences for services from non-participants

 Characteristics of current participants or non-participants

• Determine the best format for your survey. 

o Some items to consider include time, money, staffing resources, survey

purpose, and target population. 

o Review various methods of surveying (e.g., paper, electronic, phone, inperson verbal) and consider their intended use and pros and cons. 

o Keep in mind the literacy level of respondents and how those who are 

visually impaired might complete a survey.

o Does the survey need to be prepared in multiple languages?

• Build upon surveys that have already been developed, when possible. This 

may include survey tools developed by researchers, organizations, or other 

peers within the aging network. 

• Keep your survey simple and as short as possible. Make sure the questions 

you’re asking are all relevant to your purpose. 

o Tip: Look at your survey questions and imagine what the final results 

may look like. What will you do with the responses you’ve received? 

Does the potential data align with your original purpose? 
• Ask specific questions that address one issue at a time. Look for “and” in your 

proposed question as a hint that you might accidentally be asking two-part 

questions. (“Which menu option do you prefer?” vs. “Which menu option do 

you think is healthier and more appealing?”) 

• Keep your questions short and free of complex or technical terms. 

• Use scales (“always, often, sometimes, never”) or multiple-choice options 

instead of fill-in-the-blank responses whenever possible – more people will 

complete a survey if it’s quick and easy to fill out.

• Limit yes/no questions where applicable. Consider if it is possible to rephrase 

the question as a scale or multiple-choice question instead. 

• Avoid asking “framing” or “leading” questions. For example, only providing 

responses that force participants to answer in a specific way, or making 

assumptions of the survey participant. 

• Ask multiple people to look over your survey before you send it out to test it 

and try to catch any errors or tough questions. If possible, ask for feedback 

from individuals within the population the survey is intended for. 

• Provide instructions for returning the completed survey, if using a paper 

format. 

For further resources and reading:

• One example of a congregate meal participant survey 

• More tips on developing surveys 

This project was supported in part by grant number 90PPNU0002 from the Administration for 

Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. 

Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express 

freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily 

represent official ACL policy.

Created in partnership with the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services 

Programs. For more information on NANASP, visit nanasp.org.