In this chapter, I examine the basic tools available for constructing a survey question or, more specifically, for accepting the answer that respondents may provide. If we restrict ourselves to hypertext markup language (HTML) for now, there are only a limited set of input tool available to the designer. Despite this, I continue to be amazed at how often these tools are used with little apparent forethought. In the previous chapter, I noted that HTML forms are the dominant tools for delivering Web survey questions and alluded to some of the limitations of using HTML. Understanding each of the HTML form elements and how they are used is an important part of good Web survey design.

These input elements have both enabling and constraining functions. On the one hand, their shape and behavior suggest to the respondent the type of action that is permitted. If the input elements are used appropriately, and if respondents have any familiarity with completing forms on the Web, they will know what to do when presented with a certain type of input field.

On the other hand, the choice of input element often constrains Web respondents in ways not possible on paper. For example, a series of radio buttons allows a respondent to select one and only one of the available options. This is potentially both good and bad.