Inclusive surveys help promote fairness, equality, and respect for all—regardless of background, identity, or status.
When inclusivity is practiced, the diversity of individuals is acknowledged and respected and we work towards a world free of prejudice and discrimination.
If you care about diversity, inclusivity, and societal values, these types of surveys can be a valuable tool.
Inclusive surveys can be used to break down barriers, eliminate discrimination and bias, and create a more welcoming and accepting environment for all individuals.
Why is it important to carry out an inclusive survey?
Writing inclusive surveys is essential for several reasons:
Ensure accurate data: Inclusive surveys help provide an opportunity for everyone to be included in the sample. When a survey is not inclusive, it can miss essential perspectives or experiences that will affect the validity of the data.
Increases participation: Finding survey respondents is hard enough. Inclusive surveys can increase return rates by making more participants feel welcome and valued, which increases the pool of respondents.
To better understand this dynamic, see our blog “What is a good survey response rate?”
Avoids biases: Avoid biases that may occur if certain groups are excluded or not considered with inclusive surveys. A survey that is not inclusive may unintentionally favor certain groups or exclude others. Read our blog about biased surveys and their inherent disadvantages to better understand how to avoid common mistakes like biased survey questions.
Why is gender a question essential for an inclusive survey?
Gender survey options and inclusivity are interconnected. Gender is a fundamental aspect of identity; acknowledging the variousness of gender identities in a survey is essential. Inclusive gender survey options recognize and appreciate that gender is not binary and that there is a range of gender identities beyond male and female.
For example, providing inclusive gender options in surveys—“transgender,” “non-binary,” “genderqueer,” and “gender non-conforming” in addition to “male” and “female”—reflects the diversity of gender identities and allows individuals to express their gender identity in a way that feels true to them.
Including inclusive gender survey options also acknowledges that some individuals may not identify with the gender they were assigned at birth and that their gender identity may not be immediately apparent. Providing inclusive gender options creates a safe space for all individuals to participate without feeling excluded or invalidated.
Additionally, providing inclusive gender survey options promotes awareness and education about gender diversity. This helps to break down harmful stereotypes and promotes greater inclusivity and acceptance of all individuals.
Seven tips for writing an inclusive survey
Writing an inclusive survey requires considering language carefully. Format and content can be used to ensure that all individuals can participate comfortably, accurately representing their experiences and opinions. Here are some tips about how to write an inclusive survey:
1. Use inclusive language
Use transparent and inclusive language that is easy to understand. Avoid using jargon, abbreviations, or technical terms that may be unfamiliar to some participants. Use gender-neutral language and avoid assumptions about a participant’s gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, or cultural background.
Use language that includes all individuals regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, or sexual orientation. For example, instead of asking, “What is your gender?” use a question such as “What gender do you identify with?” or “How do you describe your gender?”
Interested in finding out more about demographic questions? Please read our blog on how to use demographic survey questions to learn about phrasing guidelines.
2. Provide a spectrum of inclusive options
It is imperative to provide a range of options for participants, including “prefer not to say” for sensitive questions. The possibilities should be inclusive and reflect the diversity of participants.
Offer various response options that allow participants to represent their experiences accurately. For example, instead of only offering “male” or “female,” consider offering gender identity survey options such as “non-binary,” “genderqueer,” or “prefer not to say.”
Inclusive gender options for surveys
Regarding inclusive gender options for surveys, it’s essential to acknowledge and respect that gender is not binary, and that there are gender identities beyond male and female. Here are some examples of gender identity survey options that can be used:
- Male
- Female
- Transgender Male/Trans Man
- Transgender Female/Trans Woman
- Non-binary
- Genderqueer
- Gender non-conforming
- Two-spirit
- Other (with an open text field for participants to specify)
It’s important to note that some individuals may prefer to use different terms or labels to describe their gender identity; therefore, providing an “other” option with an open text field in which participants can specify how they identify is good. Additionally, it’s important to provide a “prefer not to say” option for those who do not wish to disclose their gender identity.
Overall, the goal is to create a safe and inclusive space for all participants to express their gender identity. In addition, by providing a range of options, we can create more inclusive surveys that respect and acknowledge the diversity of gender identities.
3. Avoid assumptions
Clarity is the key component of every good survey question. Therefore, ensure that questions are clear and concise and avoid using leading or loaded questions that may spoil responses. Use a mix of open-ended and closed-ended questions while providing an “other” or “not applicable” option where appropriate.
Avoid making assumptions about your participants’ experiences or preferences. For example, instead of assuming everyone celebrates the same holidays, ask a question such as “What holidays do you celebrate?”
4. Consider cultural differences
Cultural differences are a set of practices—including languages, beliefs, behaviors, and expressions—that are considered unique to members of a specific group of shared ethnicity, race, or national origin.
Be sensitive to cultural differences and avoid using what will be unfamiliar, offensive language or concepts for some participants. Instead, consider providing explanations or definitions for terms that are not universally understood.
5. Consider accessibility
Ensure the survey is accessible to all participants, including those with disabilities. Use accessible formats such as large fonts, contrasting colors, and alternative text descriptions for images. Provide closed captioning or transcripts for videos and audio content.
Additionally, consider the option of completing the survey in a language other than English.
Organize surveys in a logical and easy-to-follow structure. Use clear headings, subheadings, and bullet points to break up long blocks of text. Questions should be ordered logically, with the survey flowing smoothly. Our 11 tips for creating an engaging online survey can help maintain survey flow.
6. Test the survey first
Test the survey with diverse participants to ensure it is inclusive and accessible. Use the feedback from the test group to make any necessary changes to improve clarity, understandability, and inclusivity.
To understand such feedback accurately, the basics of survey data collection need to be understood. Read our ultimate guide to survey data collection to help better incorporate feedback into a survey.
7. Don’t forget about confidentiality
Last but not least, ensure that the survey is confidential and that participants understand their responses will be kept anonymous. This encourages respondents to answer honestly and openly.
Conducting an anonymous survey is a research best practice. See our guide explaining how to create an anonymous survey with examples.
Write inclusive online surveys with SurveyPlanet
By following these tips and those found in the linked articles, you can create welcoming and inclusive surveys. However, if you need further assistance, numerous additional SurveyPlanet features will help you on the survey creation journey.
Our more than a hundred pre-written questions, dedicated example pages, and numerous templates mean there is no barrier to undertaking research projects and data collection. We also offer an assortment of beautiful, premade graphic design themes, which will help you personalize surveys, including branding using our white-label tools.
Sign up and start creating surveys that welcome everyone’s participation with SurveyPlanet!
Photo by Jonny Caspari on Unsplash