Questionnaires vs. Assessments

The Certitude tool allows you to create either a questionnaire or an assessment. While both types are intended to query your learners, there are several differences between the two.

Use a questionnaire when you want to survey your learners about Compliance related issues. Questionnaires do not allow for right or wrong answers, but variant answers can be marked so that reviewers can be notified.

For example, use a questionnaire as a follow-up to a Workplace Harassment course so you can ask your employees if they've experienced, or witnessed any form of harassment while on the job. If an employee chooses an answer you've marked as a variant, the Reviewer who's notified can reach out to the employee for additional information.

Or, use a questionnaire to survey your employees about overall job satisfaction. Do they feel supported by their peers and managers? Are their ideas encouraged and considered? Do they have opportunity for personal growth? Use variant answers to help improve employee morale and productivity.

Use an assessment when you want to gauge or test a learners knowledge of a topic. Assessments must include correct and incorrect answers. Assessments are scored and a passing threshold must be met to obtain a completion.

Assessments are particularly useful for non-web based content that does not include a test. For example, you may require employees to read and fully understand a PDF about job safety at their specific location. You can add the PDF to an assessment, and then ask questions such as, "Where are the fire extinguishers in your building?" Or, "Who do you report to if you are injured on the job?"

Or, use an assessment to add a test to your New Hire Policy document to ensure your employees understand company expectations.

Additional information about questionnaires

  • Questionnaires are not scored upon completion
  • Answers to questions can be either:
    • multiple choice
    • select all that apply
    • written response
  • A selected answer can prompt
    • a request for further explanation
    • one or more follow-up questions
  • If a variant answer is submitted:
    • reviewers can be notified
    • reports can be run specifically on users who selected variant answers
  • When the user completes a questionnaire, one of the following completion messages displays:
    • if no variant answers are submitted the learner receives a standard message
    • if a variant answer is submitted the learner receives a variant completion message

Additional information about assessments

  • Assessments are scored upon completion
  • Answers to questions can be either:
    • multiple choice
    • select all that apply
  • Questions cannot have follow-up questions or requests for further explanation
  • The completion message indicates whether the learner passed or failed
  • If the learner fails, an unlimited number of retry attempts is allowed