Hey everyone, I’m working on a project where I need to set up a MySQL database for an online survey. I’m kind of stuck on how to design the tables, especially for different question types.
Some questions are yes/no, others have a satisfaction scale (like very happy to very unhappy), and there are also multiple choice ones. I’m mostly confused about the satisfaction scale questions. I want to be able to easily generate reports later, like figuring out what percentage of people are satisfied.
I know this might be a simple thing for some of you, but I’m pretty new to MySQL and I really don’t want to mess this up. Any advice on what kind of fields I should use for these different question types? Or any general tips for designing a survey database? Thanks in advance for any help!
Having worked on several survey projects, I can share some insights. For satisfaction scales, consider using ENUM(‘1’,‘2’,‘3’,‘4’,‘5’) instead of INT. It’s more self-documenting and restricts input to valid values. For yes/no questions, BOOL is a good choice - it’s essentially a TINYINT(1) but more semantically clear.
A crucial aspect often overlooked is handling ‘Not Applicable’ or skipped questions. I recommend using NULL for these cases rather than a special value like -1. This approach simplifies your queries and aligns with SQL’s three-valued logic.
For multiple-choice questions, a junction table linking responses to choices works well. This structure allows for easy addition of new options without schema changes.
Lastly, don’t forget to include a respondent_id in your response table. It’s essential for analyzing patterns across different questions for the same respondent.
As someone who’s dealt with survey databases before, I can tell you it’s all about future-proofing. For satisfaction scales, I’ve found DECIMAL(3,2) works wonders. It allows for fine-grained responses (like 3.75) and easy averaging. For yes/no, CHAR(1) with ‘Y’ or ‘N’ is simple and clear.
One thing that’s saved me countless times: create a separate ‘questions’ table with a ‘type’ column. This way, you can easily add new question types without restructuring your entire database.
Also, consider adding a ‘comments’ text field for each response. You’d be surprised how often respondents want to explain their choices, and that qualitative data can be gold.
Lastly, index your frequently queried columns. It might seem unnecessary now, but you’ll thank yourself when you’re running complex reports on thousands of responses later.
hey Sky24, been there! for satisfaction scales, use INT(1) in MySQL. It’s perfect for 1-5 or 1-10 ranges. Makes averaging super easy later. For yes/no, TINYINT(1) works great. multiple choice? separate table with question_id as foreign key. hope this helps, good luck with ur survey!
yo Sky24, been there too! for satisfaction scales, try ENUM(‘1’,‘2’,‘3’,‘4’,‘5’). it’s clear n limits input. for yes/no, BOOL works great. multiple choice? make a separate table with foreign keys. don’t forget NULL for skipped Qs. good luck with ur survey project!
I’ve been in your shoes before, and designing a survey database can be tricky. From my experience, it’s best to create separate tables for different question types. For yes/no questions, a simple boolean field works well. For satisfaction scales, I’ve found using an integer field (1-5 or 1-10) is most effective. It makes calculations much easier later on.
For multiple choice, I usually create a separate table with foreign keys linking to the main response table. This approach has saved me countless headaches when it comes to reporting.
One thing I wish I’d known earlier: always include a timestamp field for each response. It’s invaluable for tracking trends over time.
Remember, normalization is your friend here. It might seem like overkill at first, but trust me, it pays off when you’re knee-deep in complex queries later on. Good luck with your project!