Survey tools
Which survey tools are best suited for your research?
The University does not mandate what research survey software you should use, so the choice of tool will depend on your application. Typically, this choice will depend on the features of the tool, where the data is stored and who has access to it, and the support available for the tool. Options available include:
- QuestionPro is suitable for most standard surveys. It is supported by Information Services and the data is hosted within Australia. We have an institutional licence for this tool.
- REDCap is particularly suited for longitudinal studies and, consequently, is used predominantly for health research. It is managed by Information Services and the data is stored on our servers. We have an institutional licence for this tool.
- Other options are available, each with their own use case. However, none of these options are supported by us and care should be taken that you comply with the University’s Research Data Management (RDM) Policy.
We recommend that you investigate the additional information below before making a choice.
We currently provide access to QuestionPro for all research staff and students. It is easy to use, flexible, suitable for most surveys, and surveys can be shared with external collaborators. However, the data is hosted in the USA, so, you should avoid using QuestionPro in cases where you must store your data in Australia.
The Academic Training Center provides training videos, webinars, and online help to get you started with QuestionPro; see the link below. More detailed help and 24/7 support (by live chat, email, and phone) can be accessed from the QuestionPro Help Center .
REDCap is a secure web application for building and managing online surveys and databases. It can be used to collect virtually any type of data, but it is specifically designed to support data capture for research studies. It is particularly well-suited for longitudinal studies and managing patient data.
Access is provided free to all researchers at La Trobe. However, HDR students must be added to projects by the owner, as they cannot create new projects themselves. External collaborators and non-HDR students can be provided with access to REDCap on request, using the support request below, and then added to the project by the project owner.
REDCap is deployed within La Trobe’s data center and your data will be backed up and stored securely, according to our policies. As such, it is recommended by La Trobe’s ethics committees as suitable for all types of research project. Data can be easily exported into Microsoft Excel or various analysis packages, such as SPSS, SAS, R, or STATA.
Digital Research hosts a regular ‘REDCap Community Hour’ where users from across the university can share knowledge and experience. For more information see our Events page.
Request for help, advice or access for REDCap can be made by contacting the REDCap Admin or by submitting a support request, see button below.
There are other tools available that you are welcome to investigate, some examples of which are listed below. However, these tools are not supported by the University. And you should be asking where your survey data will be stored and who has access to it, when exploring suitable options.
Survey Monkey
Free customizable surveys. For a fee, there is a suite of back-end programs that include data analysis, sample selection, bias elimination and data representation tools. Large-scale enterprise options for companies interested in data analysis, brand management, and consumer-focused marketing. Data is hosted in the USA.
LimeSurvey
This is a simple, quick and anonymous online survey tool. They have a variety of pricing levels and a discount for academics. It provides for surveys in multiple languages, surveys can be anonymous and may include graphics or video. Data can be hosted overseas in USA, Canada, EU (Germany or Finland) and UK, or hosted in Australia.
EpiData
This tool can be used to define data entry by entering quantitative data and documenting the quality of the data. It can also be used for basic statistical analysis and graphing of data, including creating and grouping variables (data management).