What are Anonymous Surveys?

A guide to anonymous surveys: benefits, uses, and best practices

Ready for unfiltered truth? Try SurveySparrow's GDPR-compliant anonymous surveys now

Are you planning to conduct a survey but clueless about which approach to take? Consider anonymous surveys.

Anonymous surveys are a great way to collect data if there is no need to collect demographic information or if the respondents’ identities do not matter. It is useful in situations when the researchers must draw conclusions from the responses, not the respondents. The promise of anonymity can also draw participants to your survey.

In this page, we’ll explain what anonymous surveys are and get into their benefits and disadvantages, when to implement them, and tips on how to build an effective anonymous survey.

What are Anonymous Surveys?

Anonymous Surveys, as the name suggests, are surveys where responses are collected anonymously. Questions asked relate only to the subject matter. Personal information, such as age, gender, address or phone number, is not collected.

Surveys conducted online should ensure that tracking of identifiable data like IP address, country, web address, cookies etc. should be turned off so that complete anonymity is guaranteed.

This ensures that responses cannot be tied back to any person.

How to use an Anonymous Survey Tool?

What are the Benefits of Anonymous Surveys?

Let’s look into the advantages of anonymous surveys, which make it attractive for survey administrators

Higher Response Rate

People can be reluctant to answer, knowing the surveyor will read their responses. This is especially true in the case of medical or psychological surveys. They know confidentiality will be kept but it can nonetheless be an embarrassment. The assurance of anonymous answers can go a long way in coaxing more responses from your audience.

Related: 10 Smart Hacks to Increase Survey Response Rate

More Honest Responses

Survey takers feel a sense of security in anonymous surveys. They will not self-censor themselves as the answers cannot be associated with them. There is no fear of reprisals or consequences, resulting in more honest responses.

Decreased Survey Response Bias

Response bias is the phenomenon of respondents giving self-flattering answers to make them look better in the eyes of others instead of answers indicative of their real-life behaviours, which can compromise the survey’s accuracy. This variable is eliminated in anonymous surveys.

Better Privacy Protection

The lack of PII questions means there is no danger of the respondents’ data being leaked. Not even the surveyors know who they are. In a world where the importance of data protection is increasing, this can be an attraction to the audience.

What are the Disadvantages of Anonymous Surveys?

The anonymous nature of the survey can come with some drawbacks.

Difficult to Elaborate Responses

Anonymous surveys can be inutile in certain circumstances. For example, if you want to create a new policy for your company or rectify a problem using survey data, a lot of the core information is missing.

The different responses cannot be tied back to the various departments and staff roles in the organization. You don’t know who said what or the additional context behind a response. This can make it difficult to tackle the problem and solve it.

A One Time Connection

Once a respondent has answered the survey, you cannot contact them again as that information is unavailable. If a customer has left a complaint, they cannot be contacted to know the full story, and thus there is no hope of rectifying the problem.

Likelihood of Troll Responses

Anonymity is a double-edged sword. The lack of PII can attract troll responses, as it cannot be tracked back to them. Disgruntled employees or competitors could also leave negative responses, muddling survey results.

When to Use Anonymous Surveys?

Generally, anonymous surveys are recommended when there isn’t a need to follow up on responses. Anonymous surveys can be ideal:

To Measure Customer Satisfaction

Though it can be difficult to solve specific customer complaints through anonymous surveys, it is still a good tool to measure overall customer satisfaction. People may be reluctant to give up their info to big businesses, so anonymous surveys are a good workaround to gather large-scale data.

When Gathering Sensitive Information

Anonymous surveys are a boon when it comes to the collection of sensitive information. People are generally apprehensive about revealing information related to medical history, traumatic events, relationships, etc. So the veil of anonymity can make them more eager to respond.

ALSO READ: Ethical Surveys: A Guide to Responsible Research

Assessment of Employee Satisfaction

Management can use anonymous surveys to evaluate the work environment. As they cannot be identified, employees are more likely to give their honest opinions. This can help management understand the company culture as it truly is and implement solutions.

How to Create an Anonymous Survey

Now that we’ve gone over the benefits, drawbacks and uses of anonymous surveys, let’s take a look at some tips that should be kept in mind when conducting the survey.

Start with a Clear Introduction

Begin the survey with a small paragraph that familiarizes the respondent with the subject matter and nature of the survey.

For example,

“Hello, thank you for taking the time to answer this survey about xx. Please note that all responses are recorded anonymously.”

This makes it obvious to the respondents that their identities will not be revealed, facilitating more open responses. It also reveals why the data is being collected and how it will be used.

Avoid Any PII Related Questions

Questions about contact information or demographics shouldn’t be asked but even more obscure questions, for example, “what is your role in the company?” or “what organization do you work for?” should be avoided. If it is possible to discern a person’s identity from the question, then it should be avoided.

Do Not Use Custom Variables

Custom variables collect respondents’ data through values you put in the survey link. It takes the data from the link and puts it into the results. This compromises the anonymity of the survey.

Turn Off Respondent Tracking in Survey Software

If you send a survey through SMS or Email, the response is often attached to the respondent’s phone number or email address, revealing their identity to the surveyor. To protect their privacy, use software that has the option to turn off respondent tracking so that all responses remain anonymous.

Looking for Anonymous Survey Tools?

If you’re on the lookout for the best anonymous feedback tools, this guide has a solid rundown.

But if you want a short answer, try SurveySparrow.

SurveySparrow is a customer feedback tool that stands out with its built-in anonymity. The responses you get are automatically saved, and the respondent’s identity is protected. Moreover, you can create conversational surveys that will fetch you 40% more responses. The platform is as safe as Fort Knox, with GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA compliance.

SurveySparrow stands out as one of the best anonymous feedback tools as it does not stop at feedback collection. The platform makes the process engaging for both you and your audience! Plus, there are advanced options to disable tracking the respondent’s IP address, allow multiple responses, and password-protecting the surveys.

FAQs

Yes, you can definitely conduct anonymous surveys. Many online survey tools support this feature, allowing you to collect responses without gathering personal information. It's a great way to get honest feedback on sensitive topics.
If done properly, anonymous surveys can't be traced. Good survey tools let you turn off IP tracking and other identifiers. However, it's crucial to check your settings and avoid asking questions that could indirectly identify respondents.
Yes, you still need consent for anonymous surveys. Anonymity doesn't replace the need for informed consent. You should clearly explain the purpose of the survey and how the data will be used, even if you're not collecting personal information.
The main drawbacks of anonymous surveys include the inability to follow up with respondents for clarification, potential for troll responses, and difficulty in providing context for answers. You also can't segment data based on demographics or other personal factors.
Generally, yes. Anonymity tends to encourage more honest and open responses from participants. People feel more comfortable sharing their true thoughts and experiences when they know their answers can't be traced back to them, especially on sensitive topics.

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