No wifi neededIn our last post, we looked at how to structure the questions in your presentation to get better engagement from your audience with a voting system. We very briefly mentioned the different ways you can collect and present your data, and in this post, we’re going to look at these a little more closely.
Closed Questions
Also known as yes/no question, a closed-ended question forces your audience to choose between two contrasting responses – usually a “yes” or “no”. They may also be used to determine beliefs or preferences, using options such as true/false, or brand X/brand Y.
However, despite their apparent simplicity, closed-questions are tricky to use. They allow for no middle-ground or third option, which can lead to unreliable data. For example, making a voter choose between brand X and brand Y does not take into account a potential preference for brand Z.
Multiple Choice
Multiple choice questions overcome some of the problems with yes/no questions. While you are still limiting the responses a participant can choose, broadening their options will give you a more honest insight into their opinion. You can also offer an equivalent to “neither”, “maybe” or “other”, which can open up a discussion about alternatives.
Likert Scale
Also known as a rating scale or ordinal scale, a Likert scale is used when you ask your event audience to assign a number to provide a rating. For example:
“On a scale of 0 – 10, how much are you enjoying this presentation, where 0 is ‘not at all’ and 10 is ‘very much’”
These kinds of scale are best for measuring agreement or disagreement, rather than factual information, and are useful for observing seeing a spectrum of answers across an audience. CLiKAPAD handsets are well-designed for this precise activity, with an intuitive 0-10 keypad.
If you’re using a rating system, consider whether you want to provide a middle value for your audience to indicate ambivalence, or if you would prefer to use an even number and force them to pick a side of the fence.
Comparison Slides
Use the power of comparison by taking an initial, multiple-choice poll, then allowing your workshop participants to discuss their opinions and understanding of the topic. You can conduct the same poll again later – either after a short discussion, or at the end of your presentation – and see whether your audience have changed their views.