What are the advantages and disadvantages of surveys?
Surveys are a popular method of primary research, used to collect data from a group of respondents by asking questions related to opinions, behaviours, or experiences. With today’s advanced survey software, surveys can be created, distributed, and analysed with ease—across multiple channels.
But while surveys offer many benefits, they also come with limitations. Understanding both is key to designing effective research.
Choosing the right survey method
Surveys can be conducted in a variety of ways—online, via mobile, by post, or in person. Choosing the right mode depends on your target audience and the nature of your research.
For example:
- Online surveys are fast and cost-effective
- Mobile surveys are convenient for on-the-go participants
- Paper surveys or face-to-face methods may reach audiences in rural or low-tech environments
Modern multi-mode survey software allows you to combine these methods in one project, so you don’t have to compromise on reach or data quality.
Advantages of surveys
- Quick and relatively easy to administer
- Cost-effective (especially online and mobile surveys)
- Can be deployed remotely—reducing geographical limitations
- Scalable: reach a large number of respondents efficiently
- Flexibility to ask a wide range of questions
- Standardised formats reduce certain types of data error
- Easy to compare and quantify results
- Compatible with statistical analysis for validity and reliability checks
- Collects both factual and attitudinal data
Disadvantages of surveys
- Responses may be inaccurate if respondents are disengaged or biased
- People may avoid answering sensitive or personal questions honestly
- Respondents might interpret answer options differently (e.g. “somewhat agree” can be vague)
- Non-responses or skipped questions can skew your data
- Closed-ended questions may limit the depth of insight
- Customised surveys can introduce errors if not designed carefully
Quick comparison of survey methods
| Method | Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Online Surveys | Fast, scalable, cost-effective | Excludes those without digital access |
| Mobile Surveys | Great for high response rates | Limited screen size for complex surveys |
| Paper Surveys | Inclusive for low-tech participants | Costly, slower to analyse |
| Face-to-Face | Higher engagement and accuracy | Resource-intensive and hard to scale |
Quick FAQs about surveys
Surveys are scalable, cost-effective, and allow for structured data collection across large samples. They also support both quantitative and qualitative insights.
One of the key limitations is response bias—where participants may not respond truthfully or interpret questions differently.
Yes, when well-designed. However, online surveys must account for digital access and ensure questions are clearly worded and inclusive.
Snap Survey Software: Flexible, reliable, powerful
If you’re planning a research project, Snap Survey Software gives you everything you need to design professional surveys, reach diverse audiences, and uncover meaningful insights—all from one secure platform.
With support for online, mobile, paper, kiosk, and email surveys—plus logic, routing, and real-time analytics—it’s the all-in-one tool for researchers, educators, and organisations seeking clarity from data.
