You can download a survey from Qualtrics in two primary ways: either by exporting the survey's structure and questions (e.g., to Word for review) or by downloading the collected response data for analysis.
Downloading Your Survey's Structure (Design/Questions)
This method allows you to export the entire survey questionnaire, including its logic and formatting, into a document format like Microsoft Word. This is ideal for sharing with colleagues for review, creating offline documentation, or getting a quick overview of your survey flow.
Step-by-Step Guide to Exporting to Word
- Navigate to the Survey Tab: Within your Qualtrics project, go to the Survey tab.
- Access Tools: Click on Tools in the survey builder menu.
- Select Import/Export: Choose Import/Export from the dropdown menu.
- Export to Word: Click on Export Survey to Word.
- Customize Export Options: A dialog box will appear, allowing you to tailor the output. You can choose whether or not to include:
- Question numbers
- Conditional logic (e.g., Skip Logic, Display Logic)
- Coded values (numerical representations for multiple choice or ranking items)
- Strip HTML formatting from questions and answers (to ensure a clean text-only output)
- Initiate Export: Click Export. Your survey will then download as a Word document.
This Word document provides a comprehensive overview of your survey's design, making it easy to review offline or share with stakeholders who do not have direct Qualtrics access. For more detailed instructions, you can refer to the Qualtrics Support page on exporting surveys.
Downloading Your Survey's Response Data
If you have collected responses, you will likely want to download the data for analysis. Qualtrics offers various formats and filtering options to ensure you get exactly the data you need for your research or reporting.
How to Export Response Data
- Go to Data & Analysis: Navigate to the Data & Analysis tab for your survey project.
- Access Export & Import: Click on the Export & Import button located on the top right.
- Select Export Data: From the dropdown menu, choose Export Data.
- Choose Your Export Options:
- File Format: Select your preferred format (e.g., CSV, Excel (CSV/TSV), SPSS, XML, Google Drive). Excel is often a popular choice for general data analysis.
- Data Export Options: Customize what data to include:
- Choose to download all fields or select specific questions.
- Decide whether to use numeric values or choice text for multiple-choice questions.
- Optionally include seen but unanswered questions.
- Compress the data file for large datasets.
- Filters: Apply filters if you only want to download a subset of your responses (e.g., only completed responses, responses from a specific date range, or responses meeting certain criteria).
- Initiate Download: Click Download. The data file will be generated and made available for download.
This data can then be imported into statistical software, spreadsheets, or other tools for in-depth analysis, reporting, and visualization. You can find more information on Qualtrics Support for exporting data.
Comparing Survey Download Options
Understanding the difference between downloading the survey structure and the response data is key to choosing the right option for your needs.
| Feature | Survey Structure (Word Export) | Survey Response Data (CSV/Excel Export) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Review survey design, share questionnaire | Analyze collected answers, generate reports |
| Output Format | Microsoft Word (.docx) | CSV, TSV, Excel (.xlsx), SPSS, XML, Google Drive |
| Content | Questions, logic, options, formatting | Individual responses, metadata, embedded data |
| Location | Survey tab > Tools > Import/Export | Data & Analysis tab > Export & Import |
| Key Options | Include question numbers, logic, coded values | File format, filter responses, numeric vs. text values |
| Use Case | Stakeholder review, documentation, quick overview | Data analysis, statistical modeling, reporting |
