How to Create a Google Survey

The following is a brief tutorial explaining how to create a form using Google Forms.

• PURPOSE. Define the purpose of the form and draft questions or required information to be gathered. Choose the best format to ask each question: 1) Text (short answer/fill in the blank), 2) Paragraph text (long answer/fill in the blank), 3) Multiple choice, 4) Check boxes, 5) Choose from list, 6) Scale, or 7) Grid.
• FORM CREATION. From your Google drive page, click the "Create" box in the left hand corner. A drop-down menu will appear--click "Form."
• THEME. Choose a Theme for your form. Sample themes are found by clicking the "Theme" button at the top left-hand corner of the template (next to the "Add Item" drop down menu).
• EDIT, DELETE OR ADD QUESTIONS.

a) The form generates two auto-created questions formatted for the user to provide a text (fill in the blank) answer. To edit this question, scroll your mouse over the question--the question will be highlighted in pink. Click the pencil icon to edit, or the trash icon to delete. b) To add a question, click the "Add Item" icon to view the drop down menu. Choose the correct format for the question you wish to create and complete the appropriate fields.

• MANDATORY QUESTIONS. If you have a question that a survey participant MUST answer, check the box "Make this a required question" at the bottom of the question writing field. This can be checked when initially creating a question or while in edit mode.
• COPY QUESTIONS. If you have minor edits to multiple questions, consider using the Copy function. Scroll over the question until it is highlighted in pink, click the copy icon located between the Edit icon and the Trash icon.
• HEADERS & BREAKS. Insert section headers and page breaks as required. These functions are found in the "Add Item" drop down menu.
• PERMISSIONS. Before you save the form, check to ensure the correct permissions boxes are checked. These boxes are located at the top of the form template and include the following options:

a) Allow users to edit responses. b) Require Open Source Ecology sign-in to view this form. c) Automatically collect respondent's Open Source Ecology username.

• CHANGE THE ORDER OF QUESTIONS. To change the order of a question, move your cursor over the question you desire to move, once it is highlighted pink, click you mouse and drag the question up or down to the desired new location.