What is one of the main goals of keeping questions short in surveys?

One of the primary goals of keeping questions short in surveys is to enhance clarity and understanding. Short questions help ensure that participants can easily comprehend what is being asked without being overwhelmed by complex phrasing or lengthy text. This clarity is vital because if respondents misunderstand a question, it could lead to inaccurate responses, thus compromising the quality of the data collected.

Additionally, concise questions tend to be more engaging, as they respect the respondent’s time and cognitive load, allowing them to answer more quickly and confidently. This can lead to better response rates and more reliable data since participants are not likely to disengage or become frustrated by ambiguous or overly complicated questions. Overall, well-structured and clear questions are essential for obtaining valid and actionable insights from survey data.