Checkbox Questions
Checkbox questions allow respondents to select multiple answers from a list of options. Use them when answers aren’t mutually exclusive.
When to Use
Checkbox questions are ideal for:
- “Select all that apply” - Multiple valid answers
- Feature preferences - Which features do you use?
- Interest surveys - What topics interest you?
- Multi-select demographics - Languages spoken, devices owned
Adding a Checkbox Question
- Click Add Question in the survey editor
- Select Checkboxes
- Enter your question text
- Add answer options
- Configure selection limits (optional)
Configuration Options
Answer Options
Adding options:
- Click Add Option for each choice
- Bulk add by pasting a list
- Import from previous questions
Managing options:
- Drag to reorder
- Duplicate similar options
- Delete unwanted options
Selection Limits
Control how many options can be selected:
Minimum selections:
- Require at least X selections
- Useful for “pick your top 3”
Maximum selections:
- Limit to X selections
- Prevents selecting everything
Exact number:
- Set both min and max to same value
- “Select exactly 3 options"
"Other” Option
Allow custom responses:
- Toggle Add “Other” option
- Counts toward selection limits
- Text appears in results
”None of the Above”
Add exclusive option:
- Toggle Add “None” option
- When selected, deselects all others
- Customize label if needed
Randomization
Reduce order bias:
- Randomize all options
- Keep “None” at end
- Anchor specific options
Required Response
When enabled:
- At least one option must be selected
- Or minimum selection must be met
Best Practices
Question Wording
Be explicit about multiple selection:
Good: "Which of the following do you use? (Select all that apply)"
Bad: "What do you use?"
Specify limits clearly:
Good: "Select your top 3 priorities"
Bad: "What are your priorities?"
Option Design
Do:
- Make options comprehensive
- Use parallel structure
- Group related options
- Keep list manageable (5-10 options)
Don’t:
- Include overlapping options
- Mix categories
- Use vague options
- Create exhausting lists
When to Use Checkboxes vs. Multiple Choice
| Scenario | Use |
|---|---|
| One answer only | Multiple Choice |
| Multiple answers possible | Checkboxes |
| ”Select all that apply” | Checkboxes |
| Ranked preferences | Ranking question |
Advanced Features
Selection Validation
Set up validation rules:
- Click Validation
- Set min/max selections
- Add custom error message
Example: “Please select between 1 and 5 options”
Skip Logic
Route based on selections:
- If [option] is selected → go to [question]
- If [option] is NOT selected → skip [section]
- If [any/all] of [options] selected → show [page]
Display Logic
Show question conditionally:
Show this question if:
Q1 contains "Product A" OR "Product B"
Piping Selected Options
Reference selections in later questions:
You selected: {{Q1}}
Tell us more about why you chose these.
Scoring
For quizzes with multiple correct answers:
- Enable Quiz Mode
- Mark all correct options
- Set scoring method:
- All correct required
- Partial credit per correct answer
- Deduct for incorrect selections
Analyzing Results
Viewing Results
Results show:
- Count for each option
- Percentage of respondents who selected
- Total responses (not 100% - multiple selections)
Note: Percentages sum to more than 100% because respondents select multiple options.
Charts
Best chart types:
- Horizontal bar chart (compare options)
- Table with counts and percentages
Avoid: Pie charts (percentages don’t sum to 100%)
Metrics
- Selection frequency - How often each option was chosen
- Average selections - Mean number of options selected
- Co-occurrence - Which options are selected together
Cross-Tabulation
Analyze patterns:
- Which options are commonly selected together?
- How do selections vary by segment?
Filtering
Filter results by checkbox selections:
- Include if ANY selected option matches
- Include if ALL selected options match
- Exclude specific selections
Common Use Cases
Feature Usage
Which features do you use regularly? (Select all that apply)
☐ Dashboard
☐ Reports
☐ Email notifications
☐ API integration
☐ Mobile app
☐ None of these
Interest Survey
What topics would you like us to cover? (Select up to 5)
☐ Product updates
☐ Industry trends
☐ Best practices
☐ Case studies
☐ Technical tutorials
☐ Company news
Multi-Select Demographics
Which devices do you use to access our service?
☐ Desktop computer
☐ Laptop
☐ Tablet
☐ Smartphone
☐ Smart TV
Problem Identification
What challenges are you facing? (Select all that apply)
☐ Time constraints
☐ Budget limitations
☐ Lack of expertise
☐ Technical issues
☐ Team coordination
☐ Other: ________
Troubleshooting
Everyone Selects Everything
- Add selection limit
- Question may be too broad
- Options may all seem equally important
- Consider forced ranking instead
Low Engagement
- Too many options (reduce list)
- Options not relevant (refine choices)
- Question unclear (improve wording)
Inconsistent Data
- Some options overlap (make distinct)
- Missing “None” option
- Need “Other” for completeness
Analysis Confusion
- Remember percentages exceed 100%
- Use counts for clarity
- Consider co-occurrence analysis
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