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-facilitated field interviews.
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 |
| Field Interview | Interviewer facilitates survey for respondent |
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
Field Interview Mode¶
In Field Interview Mode, an interviewer operates the survey interface on behalf of the respondent.
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
Field 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
Field Interview Use Cases¶
- In-person interviews: Face-to-face data collection
- Phone surveys: Telephone-based interviews
- 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
Field Interview 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