What’s a better way to understand your audience than asking them directly while the event is actually happening? As an event organizer, you already have a lot on your plate. You manage speaker schedules, speaker coordination, tech and logistics, and so on. In the middle of all that, polls and surveys often feel like a nice-to-have.
Most events ask their attendees for some type of feedback. This could be a poll taken during a keynote or a survey link sent via email once the final sessions wrap up. Even then, response rates are usually disappointing. As a result, event planners guess whether something was successful or not based on vague input.
This blog offers creative ways to use poll and survey formats across in-person, virtual, and hybrid events. Each idea has been developed with the realities of event planning in mind. So keep reading!Â
9 Creative Poll and Survey Ideas
1. Live Session Pulse Checks Using Poll and Survey Tools
Live session pulse checks are invaluable for organizers to see how a session is going while it is still happening. They offer two main benefits. First, they allow speakers to know immediately how well they are doing in terms of pacing and clarity. Second, they provide organizers with session-level insight without interrupting the flow.
Additionally, live pulse checks also help quieter audiences. Not all attendees will raise their hands or ask questions, especially in large academic rooms or virtual settings. A quick poll allows everyone to participate with minimal effort. The patterns of responses from multiple sessions will show which topics resonated the most and which may need clearer framing in future programs.
Example pulse-check questions used during sessions:
How clear is the main concept discussed so far? (1-5 rating poll)
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- Not clear
- Slightly clear
- Moderately clear
- Mostly clear
- Very clear
Which part of this session would benefit from more explanation?
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- Background and context
- Methodology
- Results and findings
- Practical implications
- No additional clarification needed
What word best describes this session so far? (Word cloud)
2. Pre-Event Expectation Poll
Polls taken before the event help you understand what your attendees hope to gain from it, even before it starts. Pre-event expectation polls do not simply guess the priorities of those polled. Instead, they provide an intent early on and create a way to address attendee needs. Pre-event polls are particularly useful in academic events, as many participants arrive with learning objectives, desired collaborations, and research questions they wish to explore.
Pre-event polling is at its best when done at the time of registration or a few days before the event. The poll should be short and to the point, allowing the busy academics to quickly respond without hesitation.
Example expectation poll questions used before the event:
What is your main reason for attending this event?
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- Learning about recent research
- Improving research methods
- Exploring collaboration opportunities
- Understanding policy or applied outcomes
- General professional development
Which topic area are you most interested in?
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- Theory and frameworks
- Research methods
- Data analysis
- Case studies
- Policy or applied research
What would make this event feel worthwhile for you? (for descriptive answers)
3. Single Question Surveys Post Sessions
The immediate time frame between a session’s end and people’s departure is the only window for surveying impressions and gathering honest feedback. Using long forms that often go unanswered doesn’t work well. Pick one well-framed question tied to a specific session that reflects attendee patterns right away.
Single-question surveys work best when they are shared immediately after each session, either through the event app or via a quick pop-up on screen. Since single-question surveys relate to what the attendee has recently experienced, you will get reasonable response rates.
Example one-question surveys used after sessions:
How well did this session meet your expectations?
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- Fell short
- Met expectations
- Exceeded expectations
Which part of this session added the most value for you?
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- Conceptual framework
- Methodology
- Data or results
- Discussion and interpretation
4. Opinion-Based Polls
As opposed to asking participants to judge quality or assign a score, opinion-based polls ask participants for their viewpoint. Since there is no correct answer to land on, people feel more willing to respond.Â
Opinion-based polls fit well with panel sessions, keynotes, and sessions built around discussion. They have the greatest impact when the focus stays on perspective rather than outcomes. Attendees who hesitate to unmute or type detailed comments can still take part through polling.Â
Example opinion-based poll questions used during events:
Which option comes closest to how you see this topic?
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- Strongly aligned with my current thinking
- Somewhat aligned
- Challenged my assumptions
- Still forming an opinion
Which perspective resonated most with you in this discussion?
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- Theoretical viewpoint
- Practical application
- Policy implications
- Methodological approach
5. Daily Check-in Surveys
Daily surveys help distinguish early impressions from the overall event outcome. The first day of a conference can be a chaotic experience. On the other hand, a successful second day may alter how attendees remember the entire event. Daily check-in surveys keep these two days as separate events and help gain more valuable feedback.
In virtual or hybrid events, remote attendees often experience events differently, and daily feedback can help address those gaps early.Â
Example daily check-in survey questions used during events:
Which type of interaction did you find most valuable today?
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- Listening to presentations
- Asking questions
- Informal discussions
- Structured networking
Is there anything you hope to see more of tomorrow? (Short text response)
6. Ranking PollsÂ
In ranking polls, attendees can rank their preferences by choosing which options matter most to them. The rankings can be viewed as more specific, especially in academic settings where detail is important. In addition, the data collected through a ranking poll is much easier for organizers to interpret than data collected through a rating scale.
Rankings also eliminate indecision, as attendees do not have to decide whether a session was good or excellent. They simply have to identify what stood out most to them.
Example ranking poll question used during events:
Rank these event elements based on their value to you so far.
Options to rank:
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- Session content
- Discussion time
- Networking opportunities
- Event structure
7. Anonymous Feedback Polls
Academic settings can have many power dynamics, seniority, and visibility factors which affect an attendee’s willingness to share a genuine opinion. Anonymous polls allow for the same level of honesty as surveys, but with much less risk of exposure.Â
Non-anonymous feedback is polite, while anonymous feedback focuses on content. This is because the attendee does not feel obligated to be nice. As such, this type of feedback can help teams identify what works and what does not without placing any individual under pressure.
Example anonymous feedback poll questions used during events:
Did anything in this session limit your ability to engage fully?Â
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- Pace of the session
- Level of technical detail
- Room or audio setup
- Time allocated for discussion
- No major limitations
What would you change about this session if it were repeated? (Short text response)
8. Icebreaker Polls for Networking Sessions
At academic events, most attendees arrive open to conversation, but will stand back, hesitant to take that initial step. When icebreaker polls are used thoughtfully, participants can see the similarities and overlaps they hadn’t expected. These polls work best when people are still scanning the room and deciding where to go next. They are not meant to provide insight or arrive at conclusions.Â
Example icebreaker poll questions used during networking sessions:
How familiar are you with most people in this room?
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- I know many people here
- I recognize a few faces
- Mostly new to me
What type of connection are you hoping to make today?
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- Research collaborator
- Mentor or advisor
- Peer working on similar topics
- General professional connection
9. Post-event reflection surveys
Post-event surveys allow attendees to reflect on their experiences (both positive and negative) after the event has ended. They provide a more accurate insight, as attendees have had a chance to reflect on their experience, and the presentations that resonated with them, etc.Â
Example post-event reflection survey questions:
How would you describe your overall experience at the event?
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- Very satisfying
- Mostly satisfying
- Neutral
- Somewhat disappointing
- Very disappointing
Would you attend this event again in the future?
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- Definitely
- Probably
- Not sure
- Probably not
- Definitely not
What topic would you like to explore further after attending this event? (Short text response)
Summing Up
Engagement does not increase simply by asking more questions. It increases with the right questions being asked at the right time and feels worthy of a response. When polls and surveys connect to the attendees’ experience, they will participate more readily. Event organizers who treat polls and surveys as tools for conversation will find it easier to adapt and improve over time.
With our event survey software, you can craft detailed surveys and feedback forms tailored to your needs. The platform supports interactive poll creation, real-time results, versatile question types, unlimited surveys, participant tracking, and much more. To see how this works in real event settings, book a personalized demo with Dryfta today!