Survey Execution with SirWay¶
This guide explains how to execute surveys using SirWay, Askalot's survey platform. SirWay handles all survey interactions, from respondent access via magic links to interviewer-assisted interviews (phone and in-person).
Core Concepts¶
Survey Session¶
A Survey represents a single survey session linking a respondent to a questionnaire. Each survey tracks:
- Which questionnaire is being completed
- Who the respondent is
- Whether an interviewer is facilitating
- Current progress and answers
- Completion status
Execution Modes¶
SirWay supports two execution modes based on who operates the survey interface:
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Direct | Respondent completes survey independently |
| Interviewer-Assisted | Interviewer facilitates survey by phone or in person |
Survey Sources¶
Surveys can originate from two sources:
| Source | Description |
|---|---|
| Campaign-generated | Created through the campaign invitation workflow in Targetor |
| Ad-hoc | Created on the spot by an authenticated user |
Direct Mode¶
In Direct Mode, respondents complete surveys independently without interviewer involvement.
Magic Link Access¶
The most common access pattern for direct mode surveys:
- Campaign sends invitation via email with magic link
- Respondent clicks link - no login required
- Survey loads directly in SirWay
- Respondent answers questions at their own pace
- Survey completes when all required questions answered
Magic links:
- Authenticate the respondent without platform login
- Direct to the specific survey
- Expire after a configurable period (default: 7 days)
- Cannot be reused after survey completion
Direct Mode Use Cases¶
- Online panels: Large-scale data collection via email
- Customer feedback: Post-transaction surveys
- Research studies: Remote participant surveys
- Self-service assessments: Training or diagnostic questionnaires
Interviewer-Assisted Mode (Field Interview)¶
In Interviewer-Assisted Mode, an interviewer operates the survey interface on behalf of the respondent — either by phone or in person.
Interviewer Access¶
Interviewers are platform users assigned the interviewer role:
- Interviewer logs in to SirWay with credentials
- Views assigned respondents from campaigns or selects for ad-hoc
- Starts interview for specific respondent
- Operates the survey interface - reading questions, entering responses
- Submits answers on behalf of respondent
- Completes survey when finished
Interview Workflow¶
From Campaign Assignment:
- Project manager assigns interviewer to campaign in Targetor
- Manager distributes respondents among interviewers (workload assignment)
- Interviewer sees assigned respondents on SirWay landing page
- Interviewer clicks "Start Interview" to begin
Ad-Hoc Interview:
- Interviewer logs into SirWay
- Selects questionnaire from allowed list
- Creates or selects respondent
- Starts survey immediately
Use Cases¶
- Phone interviews: Telephone-based data collection (CATI)
- In-person interviews: Face-to-face data collection (CAPI)
- Assisted completion: Helping respondents with limited digital literacy
- Translation scenarios: Interviewer reads questions in respondent's language
- Complex questionnaires: Surveys requiring clarification or explanation
Access Patterns¶
SirWay provides different interfaces based on access method and user role.
Magic Link Access (Respondent)¶
When respondents access surveys via magic link:
- No login required
- Survey loads directly
- Only the assigned survey is visible
- Simple, focused interface
Respondents see only the survey questions without any administrative functions.
Authenticated User Access¶
When users log into SirWay:
Interviewer View:
- Simplified interface
- List of assigned surveys and respondents
- Focus on conducting interviews
Manager/Admin View:
- Full interface
- Questionnaire selection for ad-hoc surveys
- Ability to create new surveys
- Access to respondent details
Survey Lifecycle¶
Status Transitions¶
Surveys progress through three states:
| Status | Description |
|---|---|
| Pending | Survey created but not started |
| In Progress | At least one question answered |
| Completed | All required questions answered |
Navigation¶
During survey execution:
- Next: Submit answer and proceed to next question
- Back: Return to previous question (if allowed by questionnaire design)
- Skip: Skip optional questions (if permitted)
Questions are presented based on the questionnaire's branching logic. Some questions may be skipped automatically based on previous answers.
Campaign Integration¶
Campaign-Generated Surveys¶
When surveys are created through campaigns:
- Respondents are added to the campaign pool in Targetor
- Invitations are sent via email with magic links
- Progress is tracked in campaign statistics
- Completion rates appear on the campaign dashboard
Progress Tracking¶
Campaign dashboards display:
| Metric | Description |
|---|---|
| Response Rate | Percentage of respondents who completed |
| In Progress | Surveys started but not complete |
| Pending | Surveys not yet started |
Ad-Hoc Surveys¶
Ad-hoc surveys are created on the spot without campaign association.
Creating Ad-Hoc Surveys¶
- Log into SirWay
- Navigate to the landing page
- Select a questionnaire from the dropdown
- Enter respondent details or select existing respondent
- Click "Start Survey"
Ad-Hoc Use Cases¶
| Use Case | Description |
|---|---|
| Testing | Verify questionnaire flow before campaign launch |
| Training | Train interviewers on survey execution |
| Opportunistic | Capture data when encountering eligible respondent |
| Pilot | Run small-scale test before full deployment |
Considerations¶
Ad-hoc surveys:
- Are not included in campaign statistics
- Have no campaign-based workload assignment
- Do not trigger invitation tracking
- Are useful for testing and opportunistic data collection
Best Practices¶
Direct Mode¶
- Test magic links before mass distribution
- Set appropriate expiration based on response window
- Monitor bounces to identify delivery issues
- Send reminders for unreturned surveys
Interviewer-Assisted Mode¶
- Balance workloads among interviewers
- Provide interview scripts for consistency
- Monitor completion times to identify issues
- Review early interviews for quality control
Survey Design¶
- Keep surveys focused - avoid excessive length
- Use clear language - appropriate for target audience
- Provide progress indicators - help respondents track completion
- Allow saves - enable respondents to pause and resume
Troubleshooting¶
Magic Link Issues¶
Link expired:
- Generate new invitation from Targetor
- Extend default expiration for future invitations
Link already used:
- Survey already completed - check campaign statistics
- Generate new survey if re-interview needed
Survey Completion Issues¶
Survey stuck:
- Check for validation errors on current question
- Verify required fields are completed
Progress not saving:
- Check network connectivity
- Verify survey hasn't already been completed
Interviewer Issues¶
No respondents visible:
- Verify assignment in campaign
- Check interviewer role on user account
- Confirm campaign is active
Cannot start interview:
- Check if survey already exists for this respondent
- Verify respondent is in campaign pool
- Confirm questionnaire is active