Digital surveys and polls
Members of the University of Bern have access to various digital survey and polling tools that can be used for different research purposes. Here you can find out which tools are particularly suited to which type of survey and see in detail the features that characterize these tools.
If you need support, please contact the office listed on the far right in the table below.
What are you planning to do?
Collect data or opinions using more complex surveys
More complex surveys enable a detailed collection of anonymous or non-anonymous data and opinions. By integrating different types of questions, they can collect a wide range of information. The data, in turn, is presented in a detailed format, which simplifies data analysis.
Suitable tools
- ILIAS survey
- MS forms
- Zoom survey
- (Qualtrics)
See the table below for more information.
Poll participants in real time
During a larger meeting or event, tools can be used in a targeted way in order to, e.g., conduct a brainstorming session with participants or obtain feedback.
Suitable tools
- ILIAS LiveVoting
- Mentimeter
- Zoom polls
See the table below for more information.
Vote on a question
Online tools facilitate asynchronous decisions by providing, e.g., a preselection of possible answers to questions or possible dates.
Suitable tools
- ILIAS Poll
- MS scheduling poll (Outlook)
- MS voting table (Outlook, Teams)
- Zoom polls
See the table below for information.
University of Bern regulations
Please consult the University of Bern information and regulations below. If you distribute your survey or poll digitally to University of Bern students, it is particularly important to note that mass distribution via Outlook, ILIAS or similar yourself is not permitted.
Note also:
- None of the tools listed may be used to handle particularly sensitive personal data. According to the Data Protection Act (Article 3, in German) of the Canton of Bern, this is data relating to:
- religious, ideological or political views, affiliations and activities, and racial affiliation
- personal privacy, in particular a person's emotional, mental or physical condition
- social assistance or welfare measures
- police investigations, criminal proceedings, criminal offenses and the penalties or measures imposed
Which tools are available to you?
| ILIAS LiveVoting | Real-time vote | completely random
partially controlled | anonymous not anonymous | preventable | Multiple Choice Number Range Open Question Priorities Single Choice more | not possible | |
| ILIAS Poll | Individual question | completely controlled
partially controlled | anonymous not anonymous | preventable | Multiple Choice Single Choice | not possible | |
| ILIAS Survey | More complex survey | completely controlled
completely random partially controlled | anonymous not anonymous | preventable | Matrix Question Multiple Choice Open Question Single Choice more | possible | |
| Mentimeter | Real-time vote (asynchronous possible) | completely random
partially controlled | anonymous | not preventable | Matrix Question Multiple Choice Number Range Open Question Priorities Single Choice Word Cloud more | not possible | |
| MS Forms | More complex survey (synchronous possible) | completely controlled
completely random partially controlled | anonymous not anonymous | preventable | Date File Upload Matrix Question Multiple Choice Open Question Priorities Rating Single Choice more | possible | |
| MS Scheduling Poll (Outlook) | Date/time polls | completely controlled
| not anonymous | preventable | Date | not possible | |
| MS Voting Table (Outlook, Teams) | Individual question | completely controlled
partially controlled | not anonymous | preventable | Matrix Question | not possible | |
| Qualtrics | More complex survey | completely controlled
completely random partially controlled | anonymous not anonymous | preventable | File Upload Heatmap Matrix Question Multiple Choice Open Question Priorities Single Choice more | possible | No central support, potentially at the faculty holding the license |
| REDCap | More complex survey | completely controlled
completely random | anonymous not anonymous | preventable | Multiple Choice Open Question Paragraph Text Signature Single Choice Yes/no calculated field file upload slider text | possible | |
| Zoom Polls | Real-time vote (in a meeting) | completely controlled
| anonymous not anonymous | preventable | Matching Question Multiple Choice Open Question Priorities Rating Single Choice more | not possible |
Last update: October 2024