By Kaylee Johnson, Ph.D., Market Research Manager

With your research foundation in place (see Planning Your Approach), it’s time to bring your survey to life. This is where strategy meets execution, and details matter. From question-wording to mobile optimization, let’s explore how to design a study that engages teens and delivers reliable, actionable data.

Teens can spot inauthenticity a mile away. Your survey should be friendly and approachable but never patronizing. (Pro tip: Our Custom Survey Builder will help you find the right balance.)

Stick to Neutral Framing: Avoid biasing responses. Instead of asking, “Is Brand A better than Brand B?” try, “Which brand do you prefer?” Neutral language invites honesty and yields cleaner data.

Avoid Trying Too Hard: Resist the urge to pepper in slang or trendy terms. A question like, “Which do you think is cool?” is fine, but overuse of teen lingo can come off as awkward. Speak to teens, not like teens.

Be Clear and Concise: Keep questions short and straightforward. Teens often take surveys on their phones, so brevity enhances readability and reduces dropout rates

Think of your survey as a conversation that needs to feel natural and engaging from start to finish.

Logical Progression: Arrange questions to flow seamlessly. For instance, ask general questions first, then move to specifics.

Strategic Stimulus Placement: If you show teens a video or image, follow it immediately with related questions. This prevents fading memories from affecting responses.

Keep Them Engaged: For longer surveys, add encouragement like “You’re halfway there!” or “Just two more questions to go!” Small touches like these can improve completion rates.

The format of your questions matters as much as their content. Match the question type to the data you’re collecting, and when crafting response options include choices like "Something else (please specify)" or "Not applicable." This approach shows respect for diverse experiences and perspectives while gathering more accurate data. Here are the types of questions and how best to use each:

- Multiple Choice Questions: These are your survey workhorses. They’re quick to answer and easy to analyze. Use them for straightforward selections like demographics or preferences. Make them even more effective by randomizing answer options to prevent "first choice bias," where respondents tend to pick the first answer they see.

- Slider Questions: These are great for frequency, satisfaction, or likelihood questions. They’re engaging because they feel interactive—teens can drag the slider to their exact feeling on a scale. They're particularly effective for questions like "How likely are you to recommend this product?" or "How many hours do you spend on social media?”

- Grid Questions: Also called matrix questions, they efficiently gather feedback on related items using the same scale. They’re perfect for rating several features of a product or measuring agreement with multiple statements. However, use them sparingly—too many grid questions in succession can lead to "straight-lining," where respondents mechanically select the same answer for every item. Break them up with other question types to maintain engagement.

- Ranking Questions: Use these to understand preferences in order of importance. While useful, keep the number of items to rank manageable— asking teens to rank more than 5-7 items can become overwhelming and lead to less thoughtful responses.

- Open-ended Questions: These allow teens to express themselves in their own words, providing rich, qualitative insights. However, they require more effort and time. Use them strategically—perhaps one or two per survey—and avoid making them mandatory unless absolutely necessary. They work best for gathering specific feedback like "What would make this product better?" or "Why did you choose this answer?”

- Likert Scale Questions: These questions measure agreement levels (Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree) and work well for attitudinal questions. They're familiar to most respondents and provide nuanced feedback, but like grid questions, too many in succession can cause fatigue.

Teens live on their phones, so your survey must be mobile-first. Ensure:

Buttons and sliders are easily tappable.

Text fits on screens without horizontal scrolling.

Grids are reformatted to avoid overwhelming small screens.

Before launching, pilot your survey with a small group of teens. Watch for:

Questions that confuse or frustrate them

Points where they hesitate or consider abandoning the survey

Feedback on clarity and overall experience

Use their input to refine your survey. Small adjustments—like rephrasing instructions or tweaking question order—can significantly improve data quality and completion rates.

Implementation is just the beginning. As responses roll in, monitor real-time patterns. Are certain questions being skipped? Are response trends unexpected? Early adjustments can make a big difference in your final results.

Our Custom Survey Builder helps you every step of the way, from thoughtful planning and precise execution. Ready to bring your survey to life with expert precision?

Try Our Custom Survey Builder Today.