Survey & research glossary
Plain-language definitions for the terms you'll run into designing and analyzing surveys.
Margin of error
How much a survey result might differ from the true value across your whole population, expressed as a plus-or-minus percentage.
Learn moreMatrix question
A grid-style question that asks respondents to rate several items (rows) against the same set of answer options (columns) in one compact table.
Mean
The arithmetic average of a set of numeric answers - add them up and divide by the count.
Median
The middle value in a set of numeric answers when sorted from lowest to highest - less skewed by extreme outliers than the mean.
Metadata
Information collected alongside a response but not part of the questions themselves, such as submission time, language, or source.
Mixed methods
Research that combines quantitative data (closed-ended questions, scores) with qualitative data (open-text answers, interviews) in the same study.
Multi-factor authentication
Requiring a second verification step beyond a password - typically a time-based code - before a creator or administrator can sign in.
Clear definitions improve survey decisions
Terms such as anonymous, representative, significant, confidential, compliant, and secure carry specific expectations. Use them only when your survey method and implementation actually support the claim.
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