So, you've created your amazing SurveyMonkey survey, gathered valuable data, and now it's time to wrap things up. Closing your survey isn't just about hitting a button; it's about ensuring your data is secure and you've extracted maximum value from your research. This guide will walk you through the process, covering different scenarios and offering best practices.
Understanding Your Survey's Lifecycle
Before we dive into closing your survey, it's crucial to understand the different stages involved:
- Planning & Creation: Defining your objectives, designing questions, and setting up your survey on SurveyMonkey.
- Distribution & Collection: Sending out your survey via email, embedding it on your website, or sharing it through social media. This is where you gather responses.
- Analysis & Reporting: Once you've collected enough data, you'll analyze the results using SurveyMonkey's tools and create reports based on your findings.
- Closure & Archiving: This final stage involves officially closing the survey to prevent further responses and securely storing your data.
How to Close a SurveyMonkey Survey
There are several ways to effectively close your SurveyMonkey survey, depending on your needs:
Method 1: Pausing the Survey
If you need a temporary break from collecting responses – perhaps you're analyzing interim data or need to make adjustments – you can pause your survey. This prevents new responses but preserves all existing data. This is a great option for long-term surveys. Here's how:
- Log in to your SurveyMonkey account.
- Navigate to the survey you want to pause.
- Locate the settings or options menu. (The exact location may vary slightly depending on the SurveyMonkey interface.)
- Look for a "Pause" or "Suspend" button. Click it.
- Confirm the pause. SurveyMonkey might prompt you to confirm this action.
To restart the survey, simply repeat the process and look for a "Resume" or "Activate" option.
Method 2: Closing the Survey Permanently
When you're finished collecting responses, permanently closing your survey is essential. This prevents any further responses and ensures data integrity.
- Log in to your SurveyMonkey account.
- Find the survey you want to close.
- Access the survey's settings or options menu.
- Look for a "Close" or "End Survey" button. Click it.
- Confirm the closure. SurveyMonkey will likely ask for confirmation before permanently closing the survey.
Method 3: Setting an Expiration Date
A proactive way to manage your survey's lifecycle is to set an expiration date during the survey's creation or setup. This automatically closes the survey at a predetermined time. This feature eliminates the need to manually close the survey later. Check your SurveyMonkey settings during the survey setup for this option.
What to Do After Closing Your Survey
Closing your survey is just one step. Here are crucial post-closure actions:
- Download your data: Download your survey results in a format suitable for your analysis (e.g., CSV, Excel). This allows you to keep a local copy of your data.
- Analyze your results: Use SurveyMonkey's analysis tools or export your data to your preferred statistical software.
- Create a report: Summarize your findings into a clear, concise report that communicates the key takeaways from your survey.
- Archive your survey: Consider archiving your survey within SurveyMonkey to maintain access to it for future reference, even if it's closed.
Best Practices for Survey Closure
- Communicate the closure: If appropriate, inform your respondents that the survey has closed.
- Thank your respondents: Show appreciation for their participation.
- Back up your data: Keep a separate copy of your data in case of any issues with your SurveyMonkey account.
By following these steps, you can confidently close your SurveyMonkey survey and ensure the integrity and accessibility of your valuable data. Remember, proper survey closure is a critical part of the research process, ensuring your findings are reliable and actionable.
