The Right Number Of Options In Feedback Survey Questions

Offering the right number of options for patients to choose from applies not only to scale-based questions (e.g., 5-point or 10-point scales) but also to other types of questions, such as ranking or multiple-choice. 

Both too few and too many options can lead to frustration, incomplete responses, or data that is difficult to interpret. Let’s explore how to determine the optimal number of options in different types of survey questions.

Number of options in multiple-choice and ranking questions

When asking patients to choose from a list of options (such as ranking services, picking preferences, or identifying specific issues), the number of available choices directly impacts the quality of feedback and user experience.

Offering 2 to 5 choices

Having 2–5 options is suitable when the feedback request is straightforward or binary, such as “yes/no” questions or when focusing on key aspects of care like doctor communication, cleanliness, or waiting time. These are best for pinpointing top priorities or issues.

It’s easier for patients to engage with, reducing cognitive load and survey fatigue. However, having fewer options may oversimplify the patient experience by not providing enough options to reflect a more nuanced response.

Offering 5 to 8 choices

Five to eight options is an ideal number for questions where patients need to choose or rank several factors. For example, ranking the importance of different elements of their care experience or selecting the aspects that most impacted their satisfaction.

This range strikes a balance between depth of feedback and ease of response — it offers enough range for variety without overwhelming the respondent.

There is a flip side to it, though. It’s more complex than shorter lists, which can slightly increase the time and effort required for completion. Still, it is manageable and suitable number for most healthcare surveys.

Offering 9+ choices

Offering 9+ options is the most suitable for comprehensive evaluations, such as asking patients to select multiple areas of improvement across many departments or services. Such a range provides very detailed insights and captures a wide range of experiences.

However, there’s a very fine line between these benefits and cognitive overload, especially with patients already feeling stressed or tired. With a long list of options, respondents may get frustrated, lose interest, or struggle to rank items meaningfully.

Insider tips for choosing the right number of options

Selecting the optimal number of options ensures you’re getting responses that are meaningful and actionable, without overwhelming respondents. Here are some best practices to keep in mind:

• Align the number of options with the complexity of the question: If you’re asking a simple question (e.g., “Which aspect of your care needs the most improvement?”), fewer options work best. For more complex questions, such as evaluating multiple aspects of patient care, offer more options to capture full feedback.
• Avoid overloading respondents: This is especially important in healthcare, where patients may already be experiencing stress or fatigue. If you have 10+ items to rank, see if you can split them into two or more questions with fewer response options.
• Focus on relevance: Including too many irrelevant or redundant choices can confuse respondents and make it harder for them to provide useful feedback. Test your surveys on a smaller sample before officially rolling them out. 
• Use clear labels: Make sure each option is clearly defined, especially when using longer scales or more options. Patients should easily understand what each option represents to ensure accurate answers.

Conclusion

Finding the ideal number of options in a feedback survey is the essential step toward accurate and meaningful insights. Whether it’s deciding how many choices to offer in a ranking question or selecting the appropriate scale size for a satisfaction question, balancing clarity and depth is key. 

With patients’ time and mental bandwidth often being limited, carefully tailoring the number of options improves the quality and reliability of the feedback you collect.