Skip to main content
All CollectionsPrototype testingSetting up a prototype test
Adding pre and post task questions in prototype testing
Adding pre and post task questions in prototype testing

Learn about the different question types available to use for pre and post task questions in Optimal.

Updated over 4 months ago

This article explains how to:

  • Identify your participants

  • Create pre and post-task questions for your participants

  • Add logic to your pre and post-task questions

  • Add multiple choice options, and what they look like to participants

  • Add Net Promoter Score

  • Add matrix questions

  • Add ranking questions

  • Add Likert questions

  • Reorder your questions

How to set up a participant identifier

If you want to be able to identify your participants in your results, you can select 'Email address' or 'Other' in the questionnaire tab. If you select 'Other', write the type of identifier in the text field.

Here's an example of what you'll see in the questionnaire tab if you want to identify your participants by their Student ID Number:

Add logic to your pre and post-task questions

Logic, also known as skip logic or branching logic, is a feature that allows you to create a more tailored and relevant study for your participants. By using logic, your participants can skip pre and post-task questions based on the answers they gave to previous questions.

As an example, let's say you're running a test on your real estate listing website. You can add logic to only show certain pre and post-task questions to your participants. If your first question is "How long have you been looking to buy a house", then any participants who select 'Over 1 year' as their answer to question 1 will be automatically skipped ahead to question 3.

Note: If you add logic to your study, you won’t be able to randomize your study questions.

How to add multiple choice options, and what they look like to participants

If you select any of the multiple choice options, click 'Add option', and write your answer options into the text fields.

'Radio' and 'checkbox' selection options allow you to include an optional free text response via the 'Add 'Other' option' link. This can be useful if you wish participants to be able to provide responses that you hadn't considered in your multi choice options.

You can also add, edit and copy/paste multiple choice options by clicking the 'Bulk edit' button and using the text field presented. Each line in the editor represents a separate multiple choice answer.

Here's an example question and example answers:

Here's how the three different multiple choice options will appear to participants:

Multiple choice, single answer, radio select with 'other' option enabled

Multiple choice, single answer, drop down select

Multiple choice, multiple answer, checkbox select with 'other' option enabled

How to add Net Promoter Score® to questions and what they look like to participants

You can use the Net Promoter Score to find out how likely your participants will recommend your products and services.

Net Promoter® and NPS® are registered trademarks and Net Promoter Score and Net Promoter System are trademarks of Bain & Company, Satmetrix Systems and Fred Reichheld.

The question should be asked in the format of "How likely is it that you would recommend our company / product / service to a friend or colleague."

Your Net Promoter Score® question will appear like this to your participants.

How to add Likert item questions and what they look like to participants

You can use Likert item questions to discover the extent to which participants agree with a statement.

These questions consist of:

  • The statement that you wish to understand participants feelings towards

  • A scaled set of possible responses for your participants to choose from

Defining your statement

Input your desired statement into the question dialog box

e.g. “Using the scale below please indicate how satisfied you are with the service provided.”

Defining your scale

We offer a choice of either a 5 or 7 point scale depending on how granular you’d like your participant’s responses to be. To define the scale, simply type the range of responses you wish to present to you participants into the dialog boxes.

You can also add, edit and copy/paste responses by clicking the 'Bulk edit' button and using the text field presented. Each line in the editor represents a separate response.

How your Likert scale question will appear to your participants

Some common scale types

How to add matrix questions to your survey

Matrix questions, also known matrix tables, are similar to a Likert scale but give you more flexibility for your questions.

They allow your participants to evaluate multiple individual items in rows against a set of columns. These can be very useful if you need your respondents to rate a certain number of items with the same criteria, for example, their level of satisfaction with different types of services.

You can use matrix questions in pre- and post-study questionnaires, as well as pre- and post-task questions.

To set up your matrix question, select the matrix option in the question type dropdown.

You can add up to 10 column labels that sit along the top of your table, and as many row labels as you need. For best practice, we recommend keeping your columns and rows to a maximum of 6 each to make your question easy to read and understand.

If you’ve marked your matrix question as ‘Optional’ your participants won’t need to complete each row and can progress to the next question or end your study.

Reordering questions

Question order can be changed by selecting their sequence number, found at the top left of each question, then dragging them into your desired order.

How to add ranking questions to your study

When you use a ranking question you can ask your participants to rank certain objects against each other in a list. This helps you find out the preferred or most important choice according to each participant.

To set up your ranking question, select the ranking option in the question type drop down.

Add some brief instructions then enter in the options you’d like your participants to rank. You can choose to randomize the order in which these options are displayed or keep them in a set order.

Reordering questions

Question order can be changed by selecting their sequence number, found at the top left of each question, then dragging them into your desired order.

Did this answer your question?