Google Docs, while primarily a word processing tool, offers a gems of features that often go unnoticed. One such feature is the ability to create interactive surveys, directly in Google Docs. This tutorial will guide you through the process, step-by-step, enabling you to create professional surveys effortlessly.
Before we dive in, ensure you have a Google account and access to Google Docs. If you're already using Google Drive, you're good to go. Let's get started!
Setting Up Your Google Docs Survey
To create a survey using Google Docs, you'll first need to set up a new document. Open Google Drive, click on the "+ New" button at the top-left, and select "Google Docs" from the dropdown menu.
Google Docs will open a new, blank document. This is where you'll create your survey. But before you start typing, it's crucial to set up the document to accommodate your survey questions and responses.
Formatting Your Document
Surveys typically have questions followed by answer choices. To create this format in Google Docs, use the "Heading 2" style for questions and "Normal text" for answer choices. You can do this by selecting the text, then clicking on the "H2" or "Normal text" button in the toolbar.
Now that your document is formatted, let's start adding questions and answer choices.
Adding Questions and Answer Choices
Your first question should be in "Heading 2" style. Type your question, then press Enter to create space for your answer choices. You can use bullet points for answer choices by typing "- " before each choice.
For instance, your first question could be "What is your favorite color?" in "Heading 2" style, followed by bullet points for answer choices: "- Red", "- Blue", "- Green", etc.
Making Your Survey Interactive
Up until now, your survey is just a document with questions and answer choices. To make it interactive, you'll use Google Forms, integrated with Google Docs.
To insert Google Forms into your document, select the question you'd like to make interactive. Click on the "Insert" button in the toolbar, then select "Form" from the dropdown menu.
Linking Your Google Form
An empty Google Form will appear below your selected question. You'll need to link this form to your survey to make it interactive. Click on the "Select" button in the form, then search for and select your Google Form (you can create a new one if you haven't already).
Once linked, the form will display a preview below your question. Click "OK" to close the form selection window.
Customizing Your Form
To add more questions or edit your form, click on the preview of your Google Form. This will open the form in a new window, allowing you to add or remove questions, change question types, and customize your form's theme.
Remember that changes you make in the Google Form will automatically reflect in your Google Docs survey.
With these steps, you've created an interactive survey in Google Docs. Share your survey by clicking on "Share" in the top-right corner of your document, then copy the link and share it with your respondents.
Remember, each response filled in your Google Form will be recorded in a Google Sheets spreadsheet, automatically generated by Google Docs. You can access this data to analyze and interpret your survey results.
Creating surveys in Google Docs might not be the most intuitive process, but with this comprehensive guide, you're well-equipped to create professional, interactive surveys. Happy surveying!