Advanced Survey Design: Anonymity in Surveys

Sometimes, individuals decline to participate in surveys because they are worried that their identities and responses will be affixed to each other and that they may be viewed as negative or cynical if they are too forthright.

This is not truer anywhere than in the workplace setting. As an example, HR and other managers analyze management and company critique surveys. If someone rates a manager poorly and that manager sees who gave him or her that score, there may be some resentment or awkwardness when the manager and employee interact.

Therefore, people are more inclined to respond to a survey if there is guaranteed anonymity. When people know that Administrators of the survey can’t see who answered in a specific way, just the raw results, they are more comfortable responding honestly to a survey.