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Qualtrics Survey System

Using the Survey Mailer to Control Access to Your Survey

With the Qualtrics Survey System, you have the ability to control the number of times that each individual can access your survey. The options are either single response or multiple responses per participant. Along with these two options, you can also control the settings so that participants are identifiable or anonymous. This document will show you how to restrict your survey to single responses as well as enable multiple responses per participant.

By restricting survey responses to one per participant, you prevent ballot box stuffing which is when a user completes a survey multiple times. For certain surveys, having a user participate more than once can skew the results. In restricting the responses to each survey to one per participant, you can also choose either to have the users identified or allow users anonymous access.

Qualtrics has a setting to allow participants to take the same survey over and over again if they wish. For some surveys, having multiple responses from the same individual has no negative effects on the overall results. Along with allowing multiple responses from the same individuals, you can also have the users identified or allow users anonymous access to your survey.

return to topRestricting Responses to One per Participant, Identified

The results of this survey are not anonymous and will be associated with the user's email address and any other information provided. With this option, since the user is identified, unfinished surveys can be completed at a later time. Also, this option is the only option used with a panel.

NOTE: You must create and activate a survey before you can access the Distribute Survey tab options.

  1. From the My Surveys tab, in the Tasks column for the desired survey, click SENDSend button
    The Distribute Survey tab options appear.

  2. Click EMAIL SURVEYEmail Survey button
    The page refreshes to show survey emailing options.

  3. Click ADVANCED OPTIONS
    The Advanced Options dialog box appears.
    HINT: The Advanced Options link is located below the body of the Message.
    Advanced Options dialog box

  4. From the Survey Link Type pull-down menu, select Individual Link

  5. OPTIONAL: From the other pull-down menus and text box options, choose your desired options
    NOTE: Unless you have special needs for your survey and know how to use Target Response Sets, you may want to leave these items untouched.

  6. Click OK

  7. Continue with step 6 of Distributing Your Survey: Using the Survey Mailer.

return to topRestricting Responses to One per Participant, Anonymous

With this option, the survey can be taken by anyone with access to the link, but only one response per user is allowed. Results will not be associated with the user's email address or any other information that may have been provided.

NOTE: You must create and activate a survey before you can access the Distribute Survey tab options.

  1. From the My Surveys tab, in the Tasks column for the desired survey, click EDITEdit button
    The Edit Survey tab options appear.

  2. Click SURVEY OPTIONSSurvey Options button
    The Survey Options dialog box appears.
    Survey Options dialog box

  3. From the Survey Protection section, select Prevent Ballot Box Stuffing
    NOTE: The option is selected when a checkmark appears in the box next to it.

  4. Click SAVE CHANGESSave Changes button

  5. Click the DISTRIBUTE SURVEY tab
    The Distribute Survey tab options appear.

  6. Click EMAIL SURVEYEmail Survey button
    The page refreshes to show survey emailing options.

  7. Click ADVANCED OPTIONS
    The Advanced Options dialog box appears.
    HINT: The Advanced Options link is located below the body of the Message.
    Advanced Options dialog box

  8. From the Survey Link Type pull-down menu, select Anonymous Link

  9. Click OK OK button

  10. OPTIONAL: To send a test email,

    1. Select Send Test Email Send Test Email button
      NOTE: The Send Test Email is to the left of the Advanced Options link

    2. If prompted to save, click SAVE
      1. From the Select a Library pull-down menu, select a library
      2. In the Name text box, type a name for the message
      3. Click SAVE
    3. In the Email text box, type in your email address

    4. Click SEND Send button

  11. Continue with step 6 of Distributing Your Survey: Using the Survey Mailer

return to topAllowing Multiple Responses per Participant, Identified

With this option, users can take the survey more than once. Keep in mind though that the results for these surveys are not anonymous and will be associated with the user's email address.

NOTE: You must create and activate a survey before you can access the Distribute Survey tab options.

  1. From the My Surveys tab, in the Tasks column for the desired survey, click SENDSend button
    The Distribute Survey tab options appear.

  2. Click EMAIL SURVEYEmail Survey button
    The page refreshes to show survey emailing options.

  3. Click ADVANCED OPTIONS
    The Advanced Options dialog box appears.
    HINT: The Advanced Options link is located below the body of the Message.
    Advanced Options dialog box

  4. From the Survey Link Type pull-down menu, select Multiple Completes Per Link

  5. Click OK OK button

  6. OPTIONAL: To send a test email,

    1. Select Send Test Email Send Test Email button
      NOTE: The Send Test Email is to the left of the Advanced Options link
    2. If prompted to save, click SAVE
      1. From the Select a Library pull-down menu, select a library
      2. In the Name text box, type a name for the message
      3. Click SAVE
    3. In the Email text box, type in your email address

    4. Click SEND Send button

  7. Continue with step 6 of Distributing Your Survey: Using the Survey Mailer.

return to topAllowing Multiple Responses per Participant, Anonymous

These types of surveys can be taken by anyone with access to the survey link and can be taken multiple times by the same individuals. Results will not be associated with the user's email address.

NOTE: You must create and activate a survey before you can access the Distribute Survey tab options.

  1. From the My Surveys tab, in the Tasks column for the desired survey, click EDITEdit button
    The Edit Survey tab options appear.

  2. Click SURVEY OPTIONSSurvey Options button
    The Survey Options dialog box appears.
    Survey Options dialog box

  3. Deselect Prevent Ballot Box Stuffing
    NOTE: The option is deselected when the checkmark is no longer in the box next to it.

  4. Click SAVE CHANGESSave Changes button

  5. Click the DISTRIBUTE SURVEY tab
    The Distribute Survey tab options appear.

  6. Click EMAIL SURVEYEmail Survey button
    The page refreshes to show survey emailing options.

  7. Click ADVANCED OPTIONS
    The Advanced Options dialog box appears.
    HINT: The Advanced Options link is located below the body of the Message.
    Advanced Options dialog box

  8. From the Survey Link Type pull-down menu, select Anonymous Link

  9. Click OK OK button

  10. OPTIONAL: To send a test email,

    1. Select Send Test Email Send Test Email button
      NOTE: The Send Test Email is to the left of the Advanced Options link
    2. If prompted to save, click SAVE
      1. From the Select a Library pull-down menu, select a library
      2. In the Name text box, type a name for the message
      3. Click SAVE
    3. In the Email text box, type in your email address

    4. Click SEND Send button

  11. Continue with step 6 of Distributing Your Survey: Using the Survey Mailer

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