Ask richer questions. Get deeper answers.
We’ve just launched the brand new Multiple Open-Ended question type on Pollfish – giving you more power to collect unstructured insights in a structured way.
Think of it as a matrix-style question, but instead of asking for ratings or numbers, you’re giving respondents the space to write out their thoughts. This makes it perfect for branding questions, concept feedback, and anything that benefits from qualitative input – all while keeping responses neatly organized.
What is a Multiple Open-Ended question?
It’s a flexible matrix question where each cell is an open text field, not a number or scale. You set a main question, define statements (rows), and optionally scale points (columns) – and your respondents can type a response for each cell.
Why use it?
Let’s say you’re a brand marketer and want to ask:
“What are your favorite cereal brands?”
Rather than just one long open-end field, you can break it down into 3 or more shorter fields. Or go deeper:
“Where do you like to shop?”
For Shoes: (3x open ends)
For clothing: (3x open ends)
etc
It’s structured and open. So you get specific feedback that’s easier to compare, without losing the nuance of free-text responses.
Key Features
Scale point labels are optional – Use them if you want column headers, skip them if not.
Statement labels required only when there’s more than one – Keep it clean and simple when needed.
Input field sizes – Choose from Small, Medium, or Large to match your question intent.
Orientation control – Display fields vertically or horizontally depending on layout preference.
Character limits – Set a min/max (2–500 characters) for each input field independently.
Matrix logic compatibility – Use carry forward, batch input, and answer shuffling just like with other matrix types.
When to use Multiple Open-Ends
We had clients ask us to develop this feature for use cases such as…
Brand recall: “What brands come to mind for each of these categories?”
Product feedback: “Tell us what you liked or disliked about each feature.”
Shopping habits: “List your go-to stores for each item below.”
Creative testing: “How would you describe each concept in one sentence?”
Ready to try it?
You’ll find Multiple Open-Ended questions under the question types button when you add a question to your next survey. Customize it to match your research needs and start gathering richer, more insightful feedback today.
Got questions? Drop us a line on the live chat or explore more how-tos at Pollfish School.
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