Create Custom Questions

If you prefer not to use the question templates or standard questions, you can create your own questions using these available question types:

Single Selection: Students select one of many options, best for yes/no and Likert-type scale questions. It is important when creating Single Select questions that you make sure the Numeric Weighting for your response options matches your intent (i.e., the most positive response has the highest numeric weighting). If you are listing your response options from most positive to least positive, you will need to use the "Reverse Code Response Options" to change the numeric weighting appropriately. 

Multiple Selection: Students can select more than one of the available options, best for "select all that apply" questions.

Matrix: A grid style question where multiple items are evaluated on the same response scale. Please note, we do not recommend using matrix questions as there is strong evidence it leads to students straight-lining their responses rather than providing thoughtful evaluation of each item. Also, matrix questions will not be included in any custom reporting developed externally of the course evaluation system.

Numeric Selection: Students enter a whole number response based on a numeric range that you set.

Write-in: Students submit an open-ended response to your question. When creating write-in questions, we recommend using the "Large Response Box" option that allows for unlimited text responses. The small and medium options have response character limits, but students are not made aware of the limit until after they try to submit a response that is too long.

Label: Labels are a text block that you can add anywhere in your survey to organize your questions or provide instructions.

These steps assume you have already created a custom question survey that is explained on the Customize Your Feedback page.

1. To create questions, click Add a Question and select Create New
2. On the following page, click on the Question Type field and select the type of question you want to add
3. Click Continue to open the question editing page
4. Enter your question prompt in the Question Text field
5. Enter the Response Options, Item Choices, or numeric range and increment as needed depending on the type of question you are adding
6. For questions with Response Options, make sure the Numeric Weighting is set appropriately with the most positive response option having the highest numeric weighting. If you list your Response Options from most positive to least positive, you will need to use the Reverse Code Response Options to reverse the numeric weighting.
7. Set the other question settings and parameters to your preference. Please note, we do not recommend marking questions as required.
8. Click Save & Add in the top right corner of the page to save your question with the current settings and add it to your custom question survey

The question is added to the end of your custom question survey. If you need to make any additional changes to the question, you can edit it again by clicking the Edit icon that looks like a pencil.

You can continue to add questions and customize them as you like following the steps above. If you are creating similar questions, such as single selection questions with the same set of response options, you can make a copy of an existing question to save time. Click the copy icon for a question and click OK on the pop-up confirmation. A copy of the question is created and added to the end of your survey and you can then edit it to make changes.

If you need to change the order of questions in your custom survey, use the # field and arrows on the far right side of a question to move it up or down in the order of questions in your survey. For example, entering 3 in the # field and clicking the up arrow will move a question three questions up in your survey.