Google Forms is a versatile tool for creating surveys, quizzes, and polls. By default, responses are anonymous, but there are times when you might want to collect and track responses by individual respondents. Here's how to make a Google Form not anonymous and collect email addresses or other identifying information.
Before we dive into the steps, it's important to note that collecting personal information should always be done responsibly and in compliance with relevant privacy laws. Make sure you have a clear purpose for collecting this data and that respondents are aware of how their information will be used.
Collecting Email Addresses with Google Forms
One of the most common ways to identify respondents is by collecting their email addresses. Google Forms allows you to do this easily.
Here's how to add an email collection field to your form:
Adding an Email Field
1. Open your Google Form and click on the '+' icon to add a new question.
2. Select 'Short answer' from the list of question types. This will allow you to collect email addresses.
Requiring an Email Address
1. To make the email field required, click on the three vertical dots (โฎ) next to the question.
2. Select 'Required' from the dropdown menu. Now, respondents will need to enter an email address to submit the form.
Using Other Identifying Information
While email addresses are the most common way to identify respondents, you can also use other types of identifying information. This could include names, student IDs, or other unique identifiers.
Here's how to collect other types of identifying information:
Adding a Name Field
1. To collect names, add a 'Short answer' question to your form, just like you would for an email address.
2. You can make this field required in the same way as described above.
Using Other Question Types
1. If you want to collect other types of identifying information, you can use other question types. For example, you might use a 'Multiple choice' question to collect student IDs.
2. Remember to make the question required if necessary, and to clearly explain to respondents what type of information you're collecting and why.
Viewing and Organizing Responses
Once you've started collecting identifying information, you can view and organize your responses in Google Sheets.
Here's how to do that:
Viewing Responses in Google Sheets
1. Open your Google Form and click on 'Responses' at the top of the page.
2. Click on the three vertical dots (โฎ) in the top-right corner of the responses sheet and select 'Select response destination'.
3. Choose 'Create a new sheet' or 'Select existing sheet' to view your responses in a Google Sheet.
Organizing Responses
1. Once your responses are in a Google Sheet, you can organize them using the tools and features of Google Sheets.
2. For example, you can sort responses by the identifying information you've collected, filter responses to find specific data, or use functions like 'COUNTIF' or 'SUM' to analyze your responses.
By following these steps, you can make your Google Form not anonymous and collect identifying information from respondents. This can be a powerful way to gain more insight from your forms and to better understand your respondents. However, it's always important to use this power responsibly and in compliance with relevant laws and guidelines.