How to Visualize Survey Data

This guide walks you through importing and visualizing your survey data, step by step.

1. Upload Your Data

• Log in to your Standard Insights account.

• Select your survey source from our list of 15+ supported platforms.

• If your platform isn’t listed, select “My Project” and upload your .xls, .xlsx, or .csv file.

Tip: Each column in your file should have a clear header (the question text).

---

2. Map Your Questions

• Our platform automatically detects your survey questions and columns.

• For each question, choose the correct type: Multiple Choice, Rating Scale, Open-Ended, etc.

• You can use our AI to auto-recognize question types—just review and confirm.

• If a type is incorrect, select the correct one from the dropdown.

---

3. Get Your Report

• After mapping, your interactive report is ready!

• Start exploring insights and visualizations immediately.

---

Survey Data Import Guidelines

You can import your data in two ways:

• Manual mapping: Upload your Excel, then map each question.

• Pre-mapping: Format your file in advance, so our system recognizes everything automatically.

---

File Requirements

• File type: .xls or .xlsxor .csv

• Max size: 5 MB

• Structure:

  • Row 1: Questions (column headers)

  • Row 2: Question types (see below)

  • Row 3+: Answers (responses)

Download the template as a starting point.

---

Supported Question Types

Type	Description
Multiple Choice	Select one or more answers from a list.
Multiple Choice Single Answer	Select only one answer.
Picture Choice	Choose from images (coming soon).
Yes/No	Binary (Yes or No).
Ranking	Order items by preference.
Likert Scale	Rate agreement or opinion (e.g., 1–5).
Rating	Rate an item numerically or with stars.
Slider	Indicate a value along a range.
Constant Sum	Distribute a fixed number of points.
Matrix	Grid of related questions (e.g., importance of items).
Matrix Scale	Grid, each answer on a scale.
Open	Free-text, single answer.
Open List	Free-text, up to 3 answers per respondent.

---

Formatting Each Question Type

Multiple Choice

• Each option is a separate column.

• Header format: Question _ Option (with spaces before and after the underscore).

• Example:

What are the most important factors for you in a job? _ Salary and benefits	What are the most important factors for you in a job? _ Work-Life balance
Multiple Choice	Multiple Choice
Work-Life balance
Salary and benefits
Salary and benefits	Work-Life balance

---

Multiple Choice Single Answer

• Each question is a column.

• No extra spaces in the header.

• Example:

How old are you?	What is your gender?
Multiple Choice Single Answer	Multiple Choice Single Answer
55-64	Male
18-24	Female

---

Multiple Choice "Other"

• Main column for standard answers; "- Other" column for custom text.

• Example:

Do you currently own or rent your home?	Do you currently own or rent your home? - Other
Multiple Choice Single Answer	Multiple Choice Single Answer
Rent
Own
	It's my wife's house

---

Yes/No

• Single column.

• Example:

Do you currently live in the USA?
Yes No
Yes
No

---

Ranking

• Each item is a separate column.

• Header format: Question - item (with spaces before and after the hyphen).

• Example:

Please rank your favorite food. - burger	... - salad	... - sandwich	... - pizza
Ranking	Ranking	Ranking	Ranking
1	4	2	3

---

Likert Scale

• Single column, answers are scale values.

• Example:

Please rate your agreement: "I am satisfied with the current camera I am using."
Likert Scale
5
6

---

Rating

• Single column, numeric values.

• Example:

On a scale from 1 to 5, how would you rate your photography skills?
Rating
5
4

---

Slider

• Single column, numeric values.

• Example:

How would you rate your overall experience with your current photography equipment?
Slider
4
5

---

Constant Sum

• Each item is a column.

• Header format: Question - item (with spaces before and after the hyphen).

• Example:

Please allocate 100 points... - Composition	... - Framing
Constant Sum	Constant Sum
46	54

---

Matrix

• Each item is a column.

• Header format: Question - item (with spaces before and after the hyphen).

• Example:

Please tell us how important each is for you - coffee	... - chocolate
Matrix	Matrix
Very Important	Important

---

Matrix Scale

• Each item is a column.

• Header format: Question - item (with spaces before and after the hyphen).

• Example:

How would you rate each car brand? - BMW	... - Tesla	... - BYD
Matrix Scale	Matrix Scale	Matrix Scale
3	5	2

---

Open

• Single-column, free-text answer.

• Example:

What sparked your interest in photography? (Open)
Open
Capturing moments

---

Open List

• Each answer is a separate column.

• Header format: Question - answer 1, Question - answer 2, etc.

• Example:

What are some of your favorite dishes? - answer 1	- answer 2	- answer 3
Open List	Open List	Open List
burgers	pizzas	tacos

---

Best Practices

• Download and use the template as your starting point.

• Follow header formatting rules (especially for underscores and hyphens).

• Check that each column in row 2 has the correct question type.

• Use clear, unique headers for each question or answer option.

---

Need Help?

If you have questions about formatting or encounter issues, contact our support team or consult the template for reference.

---

You’re ready to import and visualize your survey data! Enjoy fast, survey automated visualization with Standard Insights.