We’ve all done it.
We say “survey” when we really mean “questionnaire.” Or we say “questionnaire” when we’re actually doing a full-on survey. Many people, marketers, and researchers use these terms interchangeably, but let’s get into the details, and you will see that they are very different.
Here’s the quick truth:
- A questionnaire is a form that contains a list of questions.
- A survey is the whole process of asking, collecting, analyzing, and acting.
That one small difference? It matters more than you’d think. Let’s say you're running a customer feedback campaign. Sending out a few questions is a questionnaire, while if you have planned how to collect data, analyze it, and act on it, you're running a survey.
In this blog, we explain the differences between surveys and questionnaires, including their use cases, benefits, and how to determine which to use for your data collection needs.
What is a survey?
A survey is a structured method of collecting data, analyzing it, and turning it into actionable insights. At its core, a survey has three main parts: a goal, a questionnaire, and a plan of analysis. A goal is what you are trying to understand, such as customer satisfaction, employee engagement, and market trends of user behaviors. A questionnaire is a set of questions built around these goals, and then comes the analysis part.
What sets a survey apart is how data is handled once responses roll in. A good survey includes targeting the right segment, choosing the right channel, and analyzing data in meaningful ways that help with better decision-making and validate ideas, as well as surface problems before they grow.
What is a questionnaire?
A questionnaire is a set of questions that gathers information from individuals, groups of people, or corporations. They are everywhere in business. Job applications. Feedback forms. Intake documents. Market research. They collect both qualitative and quantitative data, depending on the type of question being asked. It's perfect for collecting contact info, quick opinions, or yes/no answers.
Think back to the time when you ordered food online. Before checkout, you probably saw a quick pop-up asking, “How did you hear about us?” or “Would you recommend us to a friend?” That's a questionnaire.
It’s not deep research. It’s just asking the right questions at the right moment.
Create surveys and questionnaires in seconds with TheySaid. Effortless, fast, and free sign!
Survey vs Questionnaire: What’s the Difference?
Now that you understand the basic definition of both, let’s dive deeper with some examples for further clarity.
Let’s say you run an e-commerce business and need to collect customer details. You send out a questionnaire asking for the name, email, and phone number of customers at checkout. This is a standard way of gathering basic data through a questionnaire.
However, once your customers start making purchases, you might want to measure customer satisfaction, brand loyalty, and overall shopping experience. Here, a survey will help you gather data and track trends over time, refining your marketing strategies for a better customer experience.
Here’s another example. When you go for a medical checkup, you may be asked to fill out a questionnaire that asks about your allergies, medical history, lifestyle, and current health issues to gather necessary details for your visit. But after the visit, the same provider could send a survey asking how satisfied the patient was with their care, wait times, and overall experience to gain insights into larger patterns.
Here’s a quick difference between a Survey and a questionnaire:
With TheySaid, whether you’re building a questionnaire or running a full-scale survey, you can enjoy an AI-driven experience that simplifies the entire process from start to finish.
Recommended read: How to Conduct a Survey: The Only Guide You’ll Need in 2025
When to use a survey and a questionnaire
Businesses use both surveys and questionnaires to collect data. Here are a few use cases to help you decide which tool fits best.
Building your outreach tunnel
If you're looking to grow your audience, onboard clients, or qualify leads, you’ll need a smart way to gather initial data.
Questionnaires are better suited when collecting basic details such as contact information, customer preferences, or pre-screening questions.
Surveys are great for a broader reach audience, helping you gather large-scale feedback on buying behavior and identify patterns in the customer journey.
Gathering Useful Feedback
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to data gathering; instead, your strategy will depend on the purpose of the data.
Suppose you're gathering responses from people and don't need to make conclusions, use a questionnaire. Consider employment applications, onboarding forms, or follow-up enquiries following a support interaction.
When studying the attitudes or behaviours of a group, use a survey. Whether it’s consumer satisfaction, market dynamics, or staff engagement, surveys enable you to collect data at scale so you can compare, contrast, and act on the results.
Streamlining Internal Operations
Do you need to gather information for an internal audit, collect preferences for training programs, or check in on employee goals? Teams may quickly and efficiently collect structured feedback with questionnaires, and they don't need to be thoroughly analysed afterwards.
Recommended read: 70 Employee Feedback Survey Questions You Can Ask In 2025
Informing Business Strategy
By running a survey among your target market or client base, you can gain insight into broader trends of behavior, such as what people are purchasing, what they find difficult, and how your brand compares to competitors. Product planning, messaging, and strategic decision-making all depend on this type of data.
Need to run a survey that captures larger trends in your customer base? TheySaid helps you create surveys that are personalized, intuitive, and backed by powerful AI for precise analysis.
Choosing the Right Research Method for Your Survey and Questionnaire
Let’s break down some standard methods of research for your survey and questionnaire.
Exploratory Research: It is a methodology approach that investigates a program that has not been studied in depth previously. Exploratory surveys and questionnaires are used to gather preliminary information or to explore new trends.
Descriptive research: It is a methodology that focuses on accurately describing the characteristics of a population, situation, or phenomenon. Surveys gauge satisfaction and trends, while questionnaires collect simple facts, such as demographics and preferences, giving you a clear picture of your audience.
Cross-Sectional Research: Cross-sectional surveys and questionnaires collect data from different groups or subgroups at the same time. This strategy is ideal for identifying differences or similarities in a population at a particular time.
Quantitative Research: It seeks to collect numerical data that can be quantified and analyzed to reveal patterns, correlations, or trends in the broader population. Surveys and questionnaires are ideal for quantitative research because they enable researchers to collect organised, numerical data that can then be statistically analysed.
Qualitative Research: It is a type of research that collects non-numerical data and seeks to explore the "why" and "how" of a phenomenon rather than just the "what." Surveys and questionnaires in qualitative research generally feature open-ended questions that allow respondents to provide extensive, descriptive answers.
Recommended read: Boost Satisfaction and Loyalty by Using the Smart Client Survey Tool!
How TheySaid Enhances Surveys and Questionnaires with AI
Traditional surveys and questionnaires can be time-consuming, but TheySaid employs AI to make the process more efficient and enjoyable. Here's how:
AI-Generated Questions: TheySaid uses AI to generate relevant and customised questions, saving you time and effort.
Engaging Conversations: Rather than using static forms, AI engages respondents by asking follow-up questions, making the experience feel like a conversation.
Real-time data analysis: AI analyzes responses instantly, highlighting trends and providing actionable insights without manual intervention.
Personalised Feedback: The AI tailors questions based on answers, digging deeper into specific responses to provide greater insights.
Automated Follow-Ups: TheySaid sends follow-up questions or reminders to ensure you collect complete data.
Easy Distribution: Distribute surveys across multiple channels, email, in-app chat, QR codes, or Slack, ensuring maximum reach.
Get ahead of the curve! Sign up for TheySaid and create smart surveys and questionnaires with AI, fast and easy
Key Takeaways
- Surveys are great for gathering feedback from a large number of people.
- Questionnaires are more specific and great for digging into detailed topics.
- Using AI in surveys helps make data collection more efficient and insightful.
- Surveys can provide both qualitative and quantitative data, while questionnaires often focus on yes/no or multiple-choice questions.
- AI-powered tools like TheySaid simplify both surveys and questionnaires, making it easy to collect, analyze, and act on your data quickly.
FAQs
What's the main difference between a survey and a questionnaire?
A questionnaire is just a list of questions. A survey includes that list plus the entire process of collecting, analyzing, and acting on the responses.
Can a questionnaire be part of a survey?
Yes! A questionnaire is often the core of a survey. It’s the tool you use to ask the questions, but the survey is the full experience from planning to analysis.
What's better for customer feedback: survey or questionnaire?
If you want rich feedback and to understand why customers feel a certain way, go with a survey. For quick ratings or short opinions, a questionnaire works great.
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