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Demographic Survey Question GUIDE (incl. questions)

Use of demographic survey questions is one of the most important tools I have as a manager of UX Research. I may better adjust my research methods and findings to better meet the wants and preferences of the user groups I am examining by using these questions to better understand the make-up of those groups.

What are Demographic Survey Questions?

A typical question type used in research studies to learn more about the features and traits of a study group is the demographic inquiry. These inquiries can aid researchers in comprehending the make-up of the study group and how it may differ based on elements like age, gender, race, level of education, and occupation.

Why are Demographic Survey Questions used?

Demographic questions are utilized in research for a variety of purposes. Making ensuring the study group is representative of the population being investigated is one of the key reasons. For instance, it is crucial to recruit a varied sample of participants who accurately represent the age, gender, and racial/ethnic makeup of the general adult population if a study is looking at the health habits of adults in the United States.

Researchers can also find any confounding factors that could influence the study's findings by asking about demographics. To make sure that these variables do not skew the data, researchers may wish to control for age, gender, and race when looking at the connection between diet and heart disease, for instance. Demographic inquiries are frequently employed in surveys and other data collection techniques in addition to research investigations. Organizations and enterprises can use this to better understand their target market and develop products and services that cater to them.

Privacy considerations when it comes to demographic questions

It is crucial for researchers to carefully assess the data they are collecting and how it will be used when it comes to privacy and demographic considerations. Demographic data may occasionally be seen as sensitive and have the potential to be utilized in discriminatory ways against specific people or groups. Therefore, it is important for researchers to take precautions to safeguard participant privacy and that data is gathered and handled in an ethical and responsible manner.

One method to achieve this is to only gather the bare minimum of demographic data required for the study. For instance, only the participants' ages may be required in a study looking at the association between age and health behaviors, rather than their full names, addresses, and other personal information.

The fact that demographic questionnaires are voluntary is another crucial factor. The decision of participants to disclose demographic information should be their own, and it should have no bearing on their ability to participate in the study. The use and confidentiality of the demographic data should also be made explicit by the researchers.

Example categories of demographic survey questions

Although demographic survey questions can take many different forms, they all generally seek to learn more about the respondents' age, gender, race, level of income, and education. Any UX research study must include these questions since they give vital context for understanding the research's findings.

Here are 20 demographic survey questions I frequently use in my research, along with the possible answers to them and some illustrations of how I've utilized them to learn more about the user groups I'm analyzing:

  1. Age: This question asks respondents to provide their age, allowing me to understand the age distribution of the user group. Response options: 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65+
  2. Gender: This question asks respondents to identify their gender, allowing me to understand the gender balance of the user group. Response options: Male, Female, Non-binary, Prefer not to say
  3. Race/Ethnicity: This question asks respondents to identify their race or ethnicity, allowing me to understand the racial and ethnic diversity of the user group. Response options: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian, Native American or American Indian, Other
  4. Marital status: This question asks respondents to identify their marital status, allowing me to understand the relationship status of the user group. Response options: Single, Married, Divorced, Widowed, Separated
  5. Education level: This question asks respondents to indicate their highest level of education, allowing me to understand the educational attainment of the user group. Response options: High school or less, Some college, Associate's degree, Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Doctoral degree
  6. Occupation: This question asks respondents to indicate their current occupation, allowing me to understand the professional backgrounds of the user group. Response options: Student, Unemployed, Employed, Self-employed, Retired
  7. Income: This question asks respondents to indicate their annual household income, allowing me to understand the income level of the user group. Response options: Less than $25,000, $25,000-$49,999, $50,000-$74,999, $75,000-$99,999, $100,000-$149,999, $150,000 or more
  8. Employment status: This question asks respondents to indicate their current employment status, allowing me to understand whether the user group is currently employed or not. Response options: Employed full-time, Employed part-time, Unemployed, Retired
  9. Number of children: This question asks respondents to indicate the number of children they have, allowing me to understand the family size of the user group. Response options: None, 1, 2, 3, 4 or more
  10. Household size: This question asks respondents to indicate the total number of people living in their household, allowing me to understand the overall size of the user group's households. Response options: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more
  11. Homeownership: This question asks respondents to indicate whether they own their home or not, allowing me to understand the homeownership status of the user group. Response options: Yes, No
  12. Political affiliation: This question asks respondents to indicate their political affiliation, allowing me to understand the political leanings of the user group. Response options: Democratic, Republican, Independent, Other
  13. Religion: This question asks respondents to indicate their religious affiliation, allowing me to understand the religious beliefs of the user group. Response options: Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Other
  14. Computer usage: This question asks respondents to indicate how often they use a computer, allowing me to understand the level of computer proficiency among the user group. Response options: Rarely, Occasionally, Often, Very often
  15. Internet usage: This question asks respondents to indicate how often they use the internet, allowing me to understand the level of internet proficiency among the user group. Response options: Rarely, Occasionally, Often, Very often
  16. Smartphone usage: This question asks respondents to indicate how often they use a smartphone, allowing me to understand the level of smartphone proficiency among the user group. Response options: Rarely, Occasionally, Often, Very often
  17. Social media usage: This question asks respondents to indicate how often they use social media, allowing me to understand the level of social media usage among the user group. Response options: Rarely, Occasionally, Often, Very often
  18. Online shopping: This question asks respondents to indicate how often they shop online, allowing me to understand the level of online shopping activity among the user group. Response options: Rarely, Occasionally, Often, Very often
  19. Gaming: This question asks respondents to indicate how often they play video games, allowing me to understand the level of gaming activity among the user group. Response options: Rarely, Occasionally, Often, Very often
  20. Television/streaming: This question asks respondents to indicate how often they watch television or streaming video, allowing me to understand the level of television/streaming consumption among the user group. Response options: Rarely, Occasionally, Often, Very often

The many various types of questions that can be used to learn more about the user groups under study include many more than the demographic survey questions mentioned above. I am able to better understand the users I am researching by adding these questions in my research studies. This allows me to modify my research techniques and findings to better meet their requirements and preferences.

Find suggestions for how to word things in a survey further down.

Demographic Survey Questions and their response options

  1. What is your age? Response options: 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65+
  2. What is your gender? Response options: Male, Female, Non-binary, Prefer not to say
  3. What is your race or ethnicity? Response options: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian, Native American or American Indian, Other
  4. What is your current marital status? Response options: Single, Married, Divorced, Widowed, Separated
  5. What is the highest level of education you have attained? Response options: High school or less, Some college, Associate's degree, Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, Doctoral degree
  6. What is your current occupation? Response options: Student, Unemployed, Employed, Self-employed, Retired
  7. What is your annual household income? Response options: Less than $25,000, $25,000-$49,999, $50,000-$74,999, $75,000-$99,999, $100,000-$149,999, $150,000 or more
  8. What is your current employment status? Response options: Employed full-time, Employed part-time, Unemployed, Retired
  9. How many children do you have? Response options: None, 1, 2, 3, 4 or more
  10. What is the total number of people living in your household? Response options: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more
  11. Do you own your home? Response options: Yes, No
  12. What is your political affiliation? Response options: Democratic, Republican, Independent, Other
  13. What is your religious affiliation? Response options: Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Other
  14. How often do you use a computer? Response options: Rarely, Occasionally, Often, Very often
  15. How often do you use the internet? Response options: Rarely, Occasionally, Often, Very often
  16. How often do you use a smartphone? Response options: Rarely, Occasionally, Often, Very often
  17. How often do you use social media? Response options: Rarely, Occasionally, Often, Very often
  18. How often do you shop online? Response options: Rarely, Occasionally, Often, Very often
  19. How often do you play video games? Response options: Rarely, Occasionally, Often, Very often
  20. How often do you watch television or streaming video? Response options: Rarely, Occasionally, Often, Very often
  21. What is your level of physical activity? Response options: Sedentary, Low, Moderate, High
  22. Do you currently smoke cigarettes? Response options: Yes, No, Former
  23. What is your level of alcohol consumption? Response options: None, Rarely, Occasionally, Often
  24. What is your typical dietary pattern? Response options: Omnivore, Vegetarian, Vegan, Other
  25. Have you ever been diagnosed with a chronic health condition? Response options: Yes, No
  26. Do you have any allergies? Response options: Yes, No
  27. Have you ever served in the military? Response options: Yes, No
  28. What is your native language? Response options: [Input desired languages]
  29. Are you currently taking any medications? Response options: Yes, No
  30. Have you ever received mental health treatment? Response options: Yes, No
  31. Sexual orientation: Please indicate your sexual orientation: Response options: Heterosexual, Homosexual, Bisexual, Other
  32. Employment industry: Please indicate the industry in which you are employed: Response options: Agriculture, Manufacturing, Construction, Retail, Healthcare, Education, Government, Other
  33. Living situation: Please indicate your current living situation: Response options: Renting, Owning with a mortgage, Owning outright, Living with family, Other
  34. Country of origin: Please indicate your country of origin: Response options: [Input desired countries]
  35. Health insurance coverage: Do you have health insurance coverage? Response options: Yes, No
  36. Disability status: Do you have any disabilities? Response options: Yes, No
  37. Volunteer work: Do you engage in volunteer work? Response options: Yes, No
  38. Travel frequency: How often do you travel outside of your home country? Response options: Never, Rarely, Occasionally, Often
  39. Vehicle ownership: Do you own a vehicle? Response options: Yes, No

These are just a few examples.