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How To . . .Create a Survey

Overview
Google forms, available within Google Drive, can help create and send a survey. A Google
form is automatically connected to a Google spreadsheet with the same title. When the survey
is sent to recipients, their responses will automatically be collected in that spreadsheet. Also, a
more graphic summary of the responses is also generated.

Create the Survey

1. In Google Drive, click the
button then select Form.
2. An untitled survey will open in edit mode.

Title and Theme

You will be prompted to enter a survey title and choose a theme. Do so then click the
button.

Respondent Settings
At the top of the survey are two respondent settings:
1. Require Marywood University Gmail sign-in to view this form. If the survey will be sent
to someone outside the Marywood email domain, this box should be unchecked.
2. Automatically collect respondent's Marywood University Gmail username. If the survey
is to be sent to only those inside the Marywood email domain, Google Drive can keep
track of who sent each response. Then, this box can be checked. Otherwise, keep this
setting unchecked.

Survey Description
In the Form description text area, type a few sentences that will explain the purpose of the
survey. (This text will appear in the body of the email sent to each respondent.)

Page Breaks and Section Headers

Page breaks can better organize a long survey. Page breaks are also used to jump to another
page/question, dependent on a respondent's answer on a multiple choice question. Insert a
page break before adding the question that will appear at the top of that page. From the Insert
menu, select Page break.
Section headers can also help organize a survey. Insert a section break before inserting the
related question(s). From the Insert menu, select Section header.

Karen Boland February 2013

Marywood University

Page 2 of 8

How To . . .Create a Survey

Survey Questions
There are seven different types of questions available to the user: Text, Paragraph text, Multiple
choice, Checkboxes, Choose from a list, Scale, and Grid. Choose the type by selecting it from
the Question Type drop-down box.
To add additional questions, select the question type from the Add item drop-down box.

Question Type: Text

A text question will allow the respondent to type a short (one or two-word) answer.
1. Enter the text of the question in the Question Title text box.
2. Leave the Help Text box blank (unless you really feel the question needs additional
directions).
3. Choose the Question Type.
4. Decide whether to make the question required or not. Click into the checkbox next to
required question to require the respondent to answer.
5. When finished, click the

button.

Question Type: Paragraph Text

A paragraph text question will allow the respondent to type a few sentences.
1. Enter the text of the question in the Question Title text box.
2. Leave the Help Text box blank (unless you really feel the question needs additional
directions).
3. Choose the Question Type.
4. Decide whether to make the question required or not.
5. When finished, click the

Karen Boland February 2013

button.

Marywood University

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How To . . .Create a Survey

Question Type: Multiple Choice

A multiple choice question allows the respondent to select one of the listed choices.
1. Enter the text of the question in the Question Title text box.
2. Leave the Help Text box blank (unless you really feel the question needs additional
directions).
3. Choose the Question Type.
4. Enter the choices, a new one on each new row. To add "Other" as a choice, click on the link
to
. A text box will also be added so the respondent can enter a specific answer
that is not listed.
5. Decide whether to make the question required or not.
6. When finished, click the

Karen Boland February 2013

button.

Marywood University

Page 4 of 8

How To . . .Create a Survey

Question Type: Checkboxes
A checkboxes question allows the respondent to select one or more of the choices listed.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Enter the text of the question in the Question Title text box.
Leave the Help Text box blank.
Choose the Question Type.
Enter the choices, a new one on each new row. To add "Other" as a choice, click on the link

to
. A text box will also be added so the respondent can enter a specific answer
that is not listed.
5. Decide whether to make the question required or not.
6. When finished, click the

button.

Question Type: Choose from a list

A choose from a list question allows the respondent to make a selection from a drop-down box
of choices.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Enter the text of the question in the Question Title text box.
Leave the Help Text box blank.
Choose a Question Type.
Enter the choices, a new one on each new row.
Decide whether to make the question required or not.

6. When finished, click the

Karen Boland February 2013

button.

Marywood University

Page 5 of 8

How To . . .Create a Survey

Question Type: Scale

A scale question allows the respondent to choose a rating, based on the low and high
descriptions.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Enter the text of the question in the Question Title text box.
Leave the Help Text box blank.
Choose a Question Type.
Enter a description/label for the low end of the scale.
Enter a description/label for the high end of the scale.
Decide whether to make the question required or not.

7. When finished, click the

Karen Boland February 2013

button.

Marywood University

Page 6 of 8

How To . . .Create a Survey

Question Type: Grid
A grid question allows the respondent to choose a rating for a list of items, based on
corresponding labels/descriptions.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Enter the text of the question in the Question Title text box.
Leave the Help Text box blank.
Choose a Question Type.
Choose the number of Columns from the drop-down box.
Enter a description/label for each item (row).
Enter a description/label for each column.
Decide whether to make the question required or not.

8. When finished, click the

button.

Confirmation Page
Type a message that the respondents will see after completing the survey (in the Confirmation
message text box). Then, uncheck the following three boxes so the respondent cannot submit
another survey, see the results, or edit the survey.
Do NOT click the

Karen Boland February 2013

button until you are ready to send the survey.

Marywood University

Page 7 of 8

How To . . .Create a Survey

Edit Survey Questions
To edit a question, click on the
To delete a question, click on the

button.
button.

Any question (as well as a page break or section header) can be moved by dragging it to its
new position.

Preview the Survey

To preview the survey before sending, click on the link to View live form. The survey will open
in a new tab. Close the tab to return to the survey.

Send the Survey

1. Click the
button.
2. Enter the email addresses of the respondents.
3. The Subject will be pre-populated with the name of the surveyunless you customize
further.
4. When using a theme, uncheck the box next to Include form in email. A link to the survey
will then be provided to the respondent.
5. You can add additional details to the email the respondents will receive by clicking the link to
Customize message and subject.
6. Click the

button when finished.

7. You will receive a confirmation email.

Karen Boland February 2013

Marywood University

Page 8 of 8

How To . . .Create a Survey

View Survey Results in a Spreadsheet
1. Open the survey from Google Drive
2. To create a spreadsheet of responses, click the link to Choose response destination.
Google will name the spreadsheet your survey title (Responses).
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Click the
button.
To display the spreadsheet, click the link to View responses.
The survey spreadsheet displays in a new tab. Each row represents a response.
The first column contains a timestamp of when the response was received.
Close the tab to close the spreadsheet.

View Survey Results in a Graphical Interface

1. Open the survey from Google Drive
2. From the Responses menu (which will display the number of responses in parentheses),
choose Summary of responses.
3. A summary will display in a new tab.
4. Close the tab to close the summary.

Stop Collecting Survey Responses

1. Open the survey from Google Drive.
2. From the Responses menu, uncheck Accepting responses.

Karen Boland February 2013

Marywood University