Five questions to ask before you launch a course survey

A survey at the end of a course is easy to send and easy to ignore. Before writing the first item, we ask the program team five questions.

1. What decision will this inform?

If no decision depends on the answers, the survey is a ritual. Name the decision: renew the course, change a module, choose a format.

2. Who needs to see the results, and when?

A report that arrives after next year's budget is set will not change it.

3. Which answers will you compare?

Plan the groups now (country, role, cohort) so you collect the information needed to compare them.

4. What will you ask in your own words?

Keep one or two open-ended questions. They are where the surprises are, and with AI-assisted analysis they no longer have to go unread.

5. How will respondents know they were heard?

Share what changed because of their answers. It is the best way to get honest feedback next time.