Census years are exciting times for the forms enthusiast. They’re quite rare – most countries run their census at 10-year intervals. And they affect the entire population. That’s the definition of a census – a count of an entire population. Census forms alsoContinue reading… Design questions for complex forms: a study of census envelopes
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Review: Online Surveys for Dummies
All of us need to look out at our competitors, right? So I’ve been buying a selection of the various books on surveys that are aimed at the general market. Rather to my surprise, I’m making one of them myContinue reading… Review: Online Surveys for Dummies
SUS Svensk: System Usability Scale in Swedish
Recently, I wrote about SUS: a good enough usability questionnaire, the scale devised by John Brookes. Bengt Göransson commented that he uses it as part of his ‘tool box’, pointing out that it is important to use it alongside other methodsContinue reading… SUS Svensk: System Usability Scale in Swedish
Book Review: How to Lie with Statistics – not recommended
Update in 2025: I no longer recommend this book. See Why I no longer recommend how to lie with statistics Surveys are all about getting numeric data, and then reporting on it. What points do you want to make withContinue reading… Book Review: How to Lie with Statistics – not recommended
Designing forms for mobile
This post was first published in 2008 on ‘Forms that Work’ – the companion website for Caroline’s book with Gerry Gaffney Forms that Work: designing web forms for usability. It was updated in 2011. Design for mobile first For aContinue reading… Designing forms for mobile
Do incentives help to improve response rate?
Why do people fill in surveys? Did you answer: “Because they’re hoping to win the prize in the draw that’s offered?” No? I thought not. And of course, you’re right, but there is some evidence that incentives can work. I’mContinue reading… Do incentives help to improve response rate?
Book Review: The Psychology of Survey Response
This month, I’ve been working on a chapter on survey questions for my forthcoming book on Surveys That Work. It has meant revisiting my library of books about questions. My favourite, easily, is: “The Psychology of Survey Response” by Roger Tourangeau, LanceContinue reading… Book Review: The Psychology of Survey Response
2010 in 46 surveys: too many
I take a lot of screenshots: websites in general, forms specifically, and of course surveys. Those specific to a project go into particular folders; the rest are filed by year. Today I was hunting through for inspiration for the chapterContinue reading… 2010 in 46 surveys: too many
Forms design: what matters to users?
These slides come from a seminar I ran for MSc students at the University of York in February 2011. MSc Seminar on Forms Design from Caroline Jarrett #forms #formsthatwork
Asking questions about internet behaviour
Have you read Steve Krug’s newest book, Rocket Surgery Made Easy: The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Finding and Fixing Usability Problems? I was honoured when Steve asked me to read it in manuscript form, but – just between you and me – IContinue reading… Asking questions about internet behaviour