Google Forms must be used to collect data from people if you are conducting a survey. It is also a form that is used to collect data on people when you are having a training session. Many features are available with the forms that let you boost efficiency and functionality.
Be it a simple questionnaire or want to use it as a feedback tool. Many people assume this to be an essential tool for form creation, but it has many hidden features. Google Forms are widely used digital forms by businesses today since they are tired of using the tested pen-and-paper method of gathering feedback.
If you think Google Forms is not a go-to option for data collection, this form will change your perception. Many exciting features you can leverage for seamless data collection and surveys are listed.
10 Ways to Use Google Forms for Seamless Data Collection and Surveys
- 1. Insert Different Sections and Pages
- 2. Add Collaborators
- 3. Get the Pre-filled Link
- 4. Select the Destination of the Response
- 5. Navigate to the Responses Tab
- 6. Add Conditional Logic
- 7. Make Use of a Script Editor
- 8. Easy to Grade the Quiz Questions
- 9. Receive Notification after the Submission
- 10. Use iFrame to Add the Contact Form
- Conclusion
- FAQs – Google Forms
1. Insert Different Sections and Pages
Creating a lengthy form is not a great idea. However, you can make this form more accessible to manage and organize for people taking the survey by adding different pages and inserting sections. It lets you segregate forms into different sections in various categories. The respondents get engaged. You can add a form description and unthinkingly mention the total sections in the form.
If you are wondering how to add the sections, click on the last option in the floating sidebar. It displays a new section, adding a title and description to each section. It is the best way to categorize the questions.
2. Add Collaborators
One of the advanced features available with Google Forms for data collection is the collaborator option, which allows you to share the form with whom you want. It will enable you to invite editors to collaborate and edit the form. It is good to have this feature if you are working on a task with your colleague or a researcher. You can add a partner and make your form edits. They, too, receive the responses once the respondent submits.
To do this, select Add Collaborator in the More option at the top right corner. You must provide the email IDs there or copy the link to the person you want to share. The admin can also prevent others from editing the form or adding new people.
3. Get the Pre-filled Link
If you want a form where the answers are pre-populated, then Google Forms is ideal for you to use. It makes a massive difference for people wanting to fill the form briskly. For example, if you’re going to save respondents’ time in the multi-section form, you can pre-fill the exact information they have provided in similar fields.
4. Select the Destination of the Response
It is one of the best Google form tips that help you learn how to organize google form responses. The Google form user is well aware that the answers given by the respondents will be saved in the Google spreadsheet. If you use the forms and want to use the advanced features, you can choose the response destination.
Here are the steps you have to follow to create a response destination:
5. Navigate to the Responses Tab
Click the three dots icon and then select the response destination. Here, you can create a new spreadsheet or save the responses in a new sheet of the existing spreadsheet.
You can choose either of these options. You can also link form responses to Google Sheets and use the link to sheets option under Responses.
If you want to download responses, click on three dots and select download responses.
6. Add Conditional Logic
Sometimes, you want to create a survey form that asks the respondent to answer only some of the questions. Google Forms uses tricks. There is a feature called conditional logic or logic branding. Using this, based on the answers provided by the user, you can redirect them to a different page or a particular question designed for them.
For instance, you must select the dresses option in the question and then be redirected to the dresses section. You can skip the questions that are not meant for you.
Remember that you can add conditional logic only to the multiple-choice and drop-down type of questions. You can click on more at the bottom of every question and then select the Go to section based on the answer provided by the respondent.
From the drop-down, you can select the page where you want the users to be directed if they choose a specific answer. You can ask them to submit the form instead of going to the following questions.
7. Make Use of a Script Editor
If you are good at coding, you can further customize the Google forms and then use the script editor that the forms support. Click on the menu in the top-right corner and select the script editor. It will take you to the Add Script tab, where you can provide a clean script.
8. Easy to Grade the Quiz Questions
Another good thing about Google Forms is that you can create quizzes using the form. Though you might know how to take a quiz and test, many advanced features are available. You do not have to give grading to students taking the quiz through the form since Google Forms will do it for you.
A pre-built quiz template is available under the education template. Otherwise, you can go to the settings tab and make the form a quiz using the make this a quiz option. If you want the respondents to view the score, you can add value to each question after they answer it.
You can set a default point value or assign points individually for each question. You also have to give feedback for the wrong and correct answers in the form.
9. Receive Notification after the Submission
When you enrolled in the course through Google Forms for surveys and made the payment, you would be worried if your name had been registered. There comes the role of notifications that will send out an email to the respondent after the survey or feedback is submitted or enrolled for the course.
You can easily send notifications to users after submissions in just two clicks. First, you must go to responses, click the three dots icon, and then select Get an email notification for new responses. You will receive an email to the email address you have logged in to the Google Forms or Google Drive.
10. Use iFrame to Add the Contact Form
You might have noticed many websites have a Contact Us form. You can do it with Google Forms if you want something like that. If you use Google Forms to create a contact form for the website or any other purpose, then Google Forms is ideal.
You can click the Send option and then navigate to the Embed icon. You can easily adjust the height and width of the frame. You can copy and paste this code into the web page to render the form.
You can give it a try by doing it through these steps:
- Click More on the top right corner and select Get a pre-filled link
- Fill out the form like a respondent’s and click the Get a link. You can see the share link option.
- Click the Copy link to copy and paste this wherever you want.
- Add-ons to advance the Google forms.
G-suite has a lot of tools that allow you to find a lot of add-ons. It is easy for you to install the add-ons for various purposes. Click more in the upper right corner and then go to Add-ons. The pop-up window will appear with add-ons that will work with Google Forms. You can check the appropriate add-ons to install them.
Once you add the add-ons, you can find them in the puzzle shape icon.
The best part of using Add-ons is that it allows you to automate the tasks and work efficiently. One of the best add-ons available with Google forms is the extended forms. Using this, you can add a timer turning the Google forms into Google test papers and quizzes. It also has many more features such as proctoring, custom branding and an easy to manage team. It becomes easy for you to add unlimited users to Google domain.
Conclusion
We have listed the top 10 features you can use in Google Forms to optimally utilize for surveys or collecting data of your customers or respondents. There are also many more Google Forms advanced features like adding confirmation messages, sharing the summary of results with the respondents, showing the progress bar, and shuffling the questions in the survey or form you have prepared. You can also check all the features to make data collection across various contexts, whether academic research or business surveys, a breeze. The features will streamline the whole data collection process. Gaining these valuable insights will help companies make informed decisions.
FAQs – Google Forms
Can I customize the theme of Google Forms to complement my brand color or theme?
Yes, it is possible to do that with the availability of many themes and colors. You also have backgrounds that will help you customize the Google form.
Are there any limitations on how many questions you can have in Google Forms?
No, Google Forms supports many questions and responses, making it suitable for businesses of different sizes.
Can the respondents edit the responses once they submit the Google form?
Yes, only if you enable the option for respondents to edit the options provided in the form and resubmit.
How safe and secure is the data collected or submitted through Google Forms?
Google Forms will use servers that are highly secure to encrypt data. Therefore, all the data gathered through this form is highly secured, and no respondent must worry about it.
What types of questions can you ask in a Google Forms survey?
Google Forms will be used to ask survey questions. You can create many questions using this form, such as multiple choice, check box, drop-down, linear scale, multiple choice, and checkbox grid. You can develop open-ended questions and ranking questions with ease.