Your survey is over. Now you have to analyze the data correctly

The analysis is determined by the survey’s purpose. How the interpretation is attacked and the analysis of the results should be steered by the purpose of the survey, meaning what the survey is intended to provide answers to. This underlines the importance of having chosen questions that, as far as possible, have helped highlight the problems raised by the survey’s purpose. At the same time, it is important that the right people (target group) have participated in the survey, so that the results are relevant to and representative of them. In this way, any measures implemented afterwards will be goal-oriented and effective.

At the same time, it is important that the right people (target group) have participated in the survey, so that the results are relevant to and representative of them. In this way, any measures implemented afterwards will be goal-oriented and effective.

In some cases it is necessary to make advanced statistical calculations and in other cases it might be sufficient to provide a simple overview of the frequency of the response in relation to the different questions. Analyses can very well contain elements of subjective interpretations. 
Often the data is broken down into smaller, more practical sub-groups, with the help of response data or questions. When the results are broken down on several levels, it is important to remember not to compromise the anonymity of the respondents, and not to base conclusions on individual answers.

If you want a comprehensive break down of the results in the analysis, you should have a bigger sample of respondents than if you want a smaller breakdown of the results . An established rule of thumb among statisticians is to never break down the data in excess of there being at least 5 respondents in each group. Once all the different results have been summed up and the analyses have been completed, they should form the basis for conclusions to be drawn at an overall level. Furthermore, you should decide which measures you think should be implemented. This must be based on the results from the survey, but preferably seen in relation to data and information from other sources too, not just the survey.

Most companies and organizations regularly gather feedback from their customers, employees, etc. through surveys and similar procedures. At the same time, experience shows that only a small minority of these companies actually put this feedback into practice. Furthermore, only a few inform stakeholders that they are implementing measures or changes based on the feedback they have received. 

You should therefore follow-up with respondents in a survey to:

• Inform them of the results 

• Inform them about measures

• Gather more information: Tivian offers several options for a thorough follow-up with survey respondents. You can, for instance, send out follow-up surveys and information to specially selected groups or individuals. Respondents want to feel that their interests are being taken care of, and will therefore, most likely, be willing to answer future surveys if they get the impression that their opinions do count.