What can I do if my demographic survey submission rates are low?
When survey responses are low, analysis can be unreliable. Since survey completion is voluntary, The best thing to focus on is improving survey reach, and the Distribution Tab of the Demographic Survey Report can help!
If your survey submission rates are low, the Survey Insights tab might not provide meaningful data or be available at all. This is because insights rely on having enough survey responses to identify reliable trends and patterns.
Since survey completion is voluntary, the most effective way to improve submission rates is to ensure the survey is reaching the candidates you want to hear from. The Distribution Tab of the Demographic Survey Report helps you:
- Monitor how many candidates are submitting your demographic survey
- Identify areas where survey delivery might be falling short, helping you decide where (if anywhere) you'd like to adjust your process
Why This Matters
The more candidates you hear from, the more reliable and representative your data will be. While you can’t control who chooses to complete the survey, you can control who receives it. These tables help you make sure the right processes are in place to support that goal.
1. Submission Rate by Source
This table shows the survey submission rate broken down by candidate sources, categorized by Datapeople's 5 main source categories.
Use this table to:
- Compare how submission rates vary across sources
- Identify source categories or specific sources where survey submission rate is unintentionally low
- Decide whether you want to update your workflow to ensure certain candidate groups are being reached by the survey
For example, if outbound candidates have a lower submission rate and you want their input, you might want to check that there's a consistent process for sending the survey to them.
Note: You’re in control of whether and how surveys are sent to different groups—this tool simply helps surface trends so you can take action if desired.
2. Survey Settings by Requisition
This table highlights any requisitions where the survey is not currently active. You can use it to:
- Identify where the survey is turned off
- Navigate to your ATS to enable it, if you choose to
This makes it easier to align survey settings with your goals across roles and teams.
Reminder: Whether or not to activate the survey for a given requisition is entirely up to you. This tool helps surface potential gaps so you can review and adjust your settings as needed.