In this episode of the Total Survey Design Podcast, I explore whether to include a neutral midpoint option in survey questions or force respondents to pick a side. I define forced-choice formats, from even-numbered scales and binary picks to pairwise comparisons. I discuss key evidence like the 2019 Pew Research experiment, which found forced yes/no questions increased reporting on sensitive topics compared to select-all-that-apply lists. I present strong arguments on both sides before explaining why I usually favor neutral options for attitude and opinion questions. I end by offering an elegant solution that combines the presence of a neutral option with the need for respondents to pick a side.

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Should you ever force respondents to answer a survey question? In this episode of Total Survey Design, I examine forced questions. While these features are often used under the assumption that more complete data means better data, forcing responses frequently leads to worse outcomes by increasing survey breakoffs, encouraging satisficing, and undermining respondents’ trust. I outline more effective and respectful alternatives, encouraging responses without coercion.

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On this episode of the Total Survey Design podcast, I put generative AI to the test by asking it to critique and improve the Microsoft Word Feedback survey: a short, everyday questionnaire that many of us have seen after using the program. I compare the suggestions from Grok, ChatGPT, and Gemini, highlight where they agree, where they differ, and share my own thoughts on what they got right and what they missed.

I recap the original survey (which takes just 50 seconds to describe), dive into the strengths and weaknesses of the AI outputs, and explain why I still think human expertise in survey methodology matters most. Along the way, I discuss the pitfalls of the Net Promoter Score scale, the importance of balanced question wording, building trust with privacy statements, and more.

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Support the show

Contact us at: totalsurveydesign@gmail.com

Find us online at: instagram.com/totalsurveydesign/

https://taplink.cc/totalsurveydesign