How to make an anonymous questionnaire in your research survey

Blocksurvey blog author
May 9, 2023 · 4 mins read

Do you think if you ask people what they think about something they are going to give you honest answers- definitely not!! Though a research survey seems to be a very simple process, gaining the quality data from participants is a very big deal. You should start with gaining trust, communicating the intention behind the study, ensuring the security of their personal identity are the ways to remove the obstacles for better data ultimately leading to better decisions.

Anonymity of the participants is the only solution for candid responses especially relevant when you are collecting sensitive data in your research.This also allows the researcher to collect data without the risk of bias or prejudice, as well as protect the respondents’ privacy.

What is anonymous questionnaire

An anonymous questionnaire is a survey that does not collect any identifying information about the respondent such as name, address, or other personal details. The goal of an anonymous questionnaire is to collect data with no risk of bias or prejudice, as well as protect the respondents’ privacy. Anonymous surveys are useful for collecting sensitive information, as well as improving data accuracy by allowing respondents to answer questions freely and honestly.

Anonymity can create a sense of safety among respondents, encouraging them to answer honestly. It also helps to prevent bias by preventing the researcher from making assumptions based on demographic information. Furthermore, anonymity allows participants to provide feedback without fear of reprisal, which can be beneficial for collecting accurate data on topics such as political opinions, personal opinions, and controversial topics.

However, there are some challenges associated with using anonymous surveys in research. The biggest challenge is that it can be difficult to follow up with participants if more information is needed or if clarifications are needed. Additionally, using an anonymous survey can lead to loss of demographic data which can be important for understanding the results of a study. Finally, implementing an anonymous survey can be costly due to the need for additional security measures.

Steps for Creating an Anonymous Questionnaire

1.Choose the right platform

Not every survey platform you see today is anonymous. Most of them store some personal informations like IP address or other digital prints of the participants, which means you are not running a survey that is completely anonymous. So you should be careful in choosing the right platform, platforms like BlockSurvey is the best and secure to host your research survey to deliver the absolute data privacy your participants deserve. BlockSurvey is the most secure survey tool with the highest data security for survey creators and respondents. BlockSurvey is an end-to-end encrypted survey tool with a pack of rich features that provides you with complete privacy, anonymity, and security.

2.Communicate your intentions

Let the participants know why you choose anonymous questionnaire, and how you respect the privacy of your participants. Communicate what information you will and won’t collect, who will be assessing the feedback, and how you intend to follow up. These communications will instill confidence and set expectations for a more successful survey experience for everyone involved.

3.Frame questions carefully

You might think your questions can’t be linked to any individual respondent, but that depends on the possible answers. Watch for questions that reveal specific information about individuals, their family members, or experiences that may be unique to them or someone with their background. It doesn’t mean you cannot ask for demographic questions, but ensure it should not be a combination puzzle that the researcher can solve at the analyzing part.

4.Choose the best distribution method and collect responses

The next step is to distribute the survey and collect responses from participants. Sharing the anonymous survey link through email or posting it on social media handles is one of the best methods of distribution. It would help if you kept in mind that the right distribution channel is the way to reach the right participants for effective outcomes. To ensure that responses remain anonymous, use a unique identifier instead of a name for each answer and do not ask for contact information (such as email address or phone number). Additionally, make sure that respondents cannot be identified by their responses.

Benefits of Anonymity

Anonymity has several benefits when it comes to conducting research surveys. Firstly, it creates a sense of safety among respondents which encourages them to answer honestly without fear of repercussions or judgement from others.

Secondly, anonymity helps prevent bias by preventing researchers from making assumptions based on demographic information such as gender, race/ethnicity, age etc.

Thirdly, anonymity allows participants to provide feedback without fear of reprisal which can be beneficial for collecting accurate data on topics such as political opinions or controversial topics.

Finally, Anonymity equals Higher response rates- Some people may be hesitant to participate in research if they believe their identity will be revealed. Anonymous questionnaires can increase participation by providing a sense of privacy and confidentiality. This is especially true for studies involving personal, impactful, sensitive topics such as mental health or sexuality. "Data is Wealth," and offering the highest protection to participant’s personal data is your topmost priority. So choosing online anonymous questionnaires, you protect the internet anonymity of your participants that would make it more likely for them to answer the survey without any fear.

Create your anonymous questionnaire

Sign-up to BlockSurvey now and join thousands of other privacy activists around the world who enjoy complete privacy and ownership of their data.

During Sign-up, you will receive your secret keys; the account you created is a Decentralized Identity(DID), which gets anchored in Bitcoin's blockchain through Blockstack. A secret key is a set of 12 words that proves your ownership of our account/identity. It is used to access your identity on the Blockstack's blockchain.

Design your first completely anonymous survey in BlockSurvey and share it with your participants easily, as BlockSurvey supports easy integrations and effortless distribution.

Analyze your data with best-in-class built-in analytics to extract the quality information from the survey created.

Conclusion

In conclusion, using an anonymous questionnaire in your research project can be a valuable tool for collecting accurate data without risk of bias or prejudice towards respondents. However, it is important to consider the challenges associated with using an anonymous survey before implementing one in your research project. So It is also important for researchers to ensure that the internet anonymity of their participants is respected and protected at all times. Still not sure, create your anonymous questionnaire with BlockSurvey now and see how absolute anonymity works!!

How to make an anonymous questionnaire in your research survey FAQ

What is an anonymous survey?

An anonymous survey is a survey where the identity of the respondent is not known to the researcher. This type of survey allows respondents to feel more comfortable providing honest answers without the fear of repercussions or being judged.

How can I ensure the anonymity of my survey?

To ensure the anonymity of your survey, make sure to avoid asking any identifying questions or information in the survey. Additionally, use a secure online platform to host your survey and make sure to delete any identifying IP addresses or other information.

What types of questions can I include in my anonymous survey?

You can include a variety of questions in your anonymous survey, such as multiple choice, Likert scales, and open-ended questions. However, make sure to avoid any questions that could lead to the identification of the respondent.

How can I ensure accurate responses and prevent cheating?

To ensure accurate responses and prevent cheating, you can require respondents to answer all questions honestly and use randomization techniques to ensure that all respondents are answering the questions in the same order. Additionally, you can use a verification system to ensure that respondents are not completing the survey more than once.

What should I do to protect the data I have collected?

To protect the data you have collected, make sure to store the data securely and encrypt it when transmitting. Additionally, make sure to delete any identifying information such as IP addresses.

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Vimala Balamurugan

Vimala heads the Content and SEO Team at BlockSurvey. She is the curator of all the content that BlockSurvey puts out into the public domain. Blogging, music, and exploring new places around is how she spends most of her leisure time.

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