When creating digital forms or surveys, it is important to consider accessibility for all users. Various online survey platforms, such as Qualtrics, offer helpful built-in accessibility features that can simplify the process of designing and managing forms, as well as collecting data. These platforms are designed to be user-friendly and mobile-friendly, enhancing the overall experience.
Conversely, document-based forms can present challenges in achieving accessibility and systematic data collection. Moving these forms to an online platform may be a beneficial approach to improve both efficiency and accessibility, and is worth considering.
Qualtrics forms
Qualtrics is available to all members of the MU community and can be used to create web-based forms and surveys. Follow these steps to create accessible forms.
- Use a layout theme with an accessible level of color contrast. Check with a color contrast checker. One recommended theme is the Simple Layout, due to its clean design and overall usability.
- Use accessible question types. See the list of Qualtrics accessible and non-accessible question types.
- Customize the Next and Previous button text to replace the arrows.
- Add the title of the form in the Display name field, as this will display in the browser tab.
- Avoid animated backgrounds or auto-playing music.
- Consider adding a progress bar for longer surveys and/or numbering your questions.
- Run the Check Survey Accessibility Tool.
Printing a Qualtrics form
There may be instances in which you need a physical version of a form that was created in Qualtrics. In that case, follow these instructions to print the survey or save it as a PDF.
- Build Your Form in Qualtrics
- Create your survey or form as usual in the Qualtrics Survey Builder.
- Print the Survey or Save as PDF
- Go to the Survey tab.
- Click Tools > Import/Export > Print Survey.
- This will open a printable preview of your form.
- Save as PDF (Optional)
- In the print dialog window, change the Destination to “Save as PDF” instead of a printer.
- Click Save to download the PDF file to your computer.
- Export to Word (Optional)
- If you want to edit the form before printing, you can export it to Word:
- Go to Tools > Import/Export > Export Survey to Word.
- Open the DOCX file in Microsoft Word, make any necessary changes, and print.
- If you want to edit the form before printing, you can export it to Word:
Notes
- The printed or PDF version will include all questions and logic, but may not have the same formatting as the online version.
- You can distribute the printed form as needed for paper-based data collection.
- If you need to print only a subset of questions, you can export to Word and delete the questions you don’t want before printing.