Research Participant Survey
An encrypted research participant data collection survey covering demographics, structured rating questions and open-ended responses. Compliant with Swiss HFG and nFADP data minimisation principles.
About this template
This template provides research teams with a ready-to-use participant data collection survey. It is designed as a generic instrument adaptable to a wide range of research domains — social sciences, public health, behavioural research, clinical follow-up and product user research. The form collects demographic background, structured rating responses on the study topic, and open-ended qualitative responses, while remaining compliant with Swiss HFG data minimisation requirements and nFADP obligations.
What it collects
- Age group and gender for demographic stratification
- Highest education level attained
- Structured rating questions on the study topic (adaptable)
- Open-ended responses for qualitative depth
- Study experience and participation quality rating
- Optional contact details for follow-up or longitudinal re-contact
- Signature confirming voluntary participation and data processing consent
Data minimisation under HFG and nFADP
Research participant surveys must collect only the data necessary for the stated research purpose. The Swiss nFADP and HFG both require data minimisation. This template collects demographic data in aggregate bands (not exact ages or precise details), uses optional contact fields, and captures explicit consent — aligning with these requirements by design.
How to use it
Use this template
Click 'Use template' to create a copy in your dashboard.
Replace placeholder rating questions
The rating and open-ended questions are designed as placeholders. Replace them with your study-specific instruments — Likert scales, semantic differentials or topic-specific open questions.
Adjust demographics to your study
Remove demographic dimensions not relevant to your research question to further minimise data collection.
Link to ethics approval
Reference your ethics committee approval number in the form description before distribution.
Designing a good research participant survey
Survey design for research purposes differs from commercial or marketing survey design in a fundamental way: the validity of your findings depends directly on the quality of your instrument. A poorly worded question introduces measurement error that cannot be corrected in analysis. A leading question biases responses in a systematic direction. A survey that is too long causes fatigue and attrition that systematically affects certain types of participants more than others, introducing non-random dropout bias.
Best practice in participant survey design for academic and clinical research involves piloting the instrument on a small sample before full deployment, checking internal consistency for multi-item scales using Cronbach's alpha, and pre-registering the analysis plan so that the survey questions are frozen before data collection begins. Pre-registration prevents the addition of post-hoc questions once data patterns are known, which would constitute a form of p-hacking.
Demographic questions in research surveys
Demographic data in research surveys should be collected in aggregate bands rather than exact values wherever possible. Collecting exact birth year instead of age group increases re-identification risk substantially, especially in small samples. The nFADP requires that data be collected in the least identifying form consistent with the research purpose. Age groups such as 18-29, 30-44 etc. are sufficient for most stratification purposes. Similarly, education should be collected at the level of credential category rather than specific institution.
Protecting participant data: HFG and nFADP obligations
Survey responses from research participants constitute personal data and, if they include health information, special-category data under GDPR Article 9 and the Swiss nFADP. The research team must ensure that data is stored securely, access is limited to authorised personnel, and data is anonymised or pseudonymised as early in the processing pipeline as possible. End-to-end encryption ensures that responses cannot be intercepted in transit. Post-collection pseudonymisation and eventual anonymisation should be specified in the study's data management plan.
Frequently asked questions
Does this survey require ethics approval?
In Switzerland, any research involving human participants that is covered by HFG requires ethics committee approval before participant recruitment begins. Even surveys with no health data may require ethics review depending on the population, topic and institution. Consult your cantonal ethics committee (KEK) or institutional review board before deploying this form.
Can we use this form for longitudinal re-contact?
Yes — the optional contact fields support longitudinal research designs. If you plan to re-contact participants, this purpose must be disclosed in the consent text and in the participant information sheet, and the contact data must be stored separately from the research responses using pseudonymisation.
What is the recommended response scale for rating questions?
Five-point Likert scales are the most commonly used and have well-established psychometric properties. Seven-point scales offer slightly greater sensitivity for detecting small effects. Avoid even-numbered scales (4 or 6 points) when a neutral midpoint is meaningful to your construct, as forcing a directional response when participants genuinely feel neutral introduces measurement error.