Import from SurveyMonkey
If you use SurveyMonkey to collect survey responses, you can import these responses into your NVivo project.
To import survey responses directly from SurveyMonkey you need:
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NVivo 10 for Windows Service Pack 3 (or later)
What do you want to do?
- Overview
- Import survey responses from SurveyMonkey
- Understand how responses are imported as datasets
- Importing multiple times from the same survey
- Why can't I see the date my survey was created or modified?
Overview
If you use SurveyMonkey to collect survey responses (with a SurveyMonkey annual plan), you can import the completed responses directly into your NVivo project. The imported data becomes a dataset source that you can sort, filter or auto code.
You can exclude particular questions from being imported—for example, if they are not relevant to your analysis or if they contain confidential information.
You can also change the field names (column headings). For example, if your survey question is 'How would you describe your involvement in your community?', you could rename the field 'Community involvement'.
Import survey responses from SurveyMonkey
To import from SurveyMonkey into NVivo:
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On the External Data tab, in the Import group, click From Other Sources, and then click From SurveyMonkey.
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Enter your SurveyMonkey Username and Password in the SurveyMonkey Authenticator dialog box, and then click Authorize.
NOTE If you receive a message indicating that the login webpage cannot be displayed, check your Internet connection. If the problem persists, check whether you are accessing the Internet via a proxy server. You may not be able to login to SurveyMonkey via NVivo, if you connect to the Internet using a proxy server that requires authentication.
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Follow the instructions in the Import from SurveyMonkey Wizard. For more information about using the wizard, refer to the following table:
| Wizard step | Description |
| Step 1 |
Review the list of surveys and select the survey that you want to import responses from. NOTE The date the survey was created or modified is no longer available—refer to Why can't I see the date my survey was created or modified? for more information. |
| Step 2 |
Your survey may have been set up in SurveyMonkey with multiple collectors for collecting responses. Select the collectors that you want to import responses from. You need to select at least one collector. You can optionally select the Import a random sample of check box—for example, if your survey has a large number of responses. You can also change the number of sample responses that will be imported. Select the Merge into previously imported dataset check box if you have already imported responses from this survey and you want to combine the additional responses into the same dataset. If there are multiple datasets in your project based on the same survey, you can select which dataset to import the new responses into. If you choose Merge into previously imported dataset, then this is the final step of the Wizard. |
| Step 3
|
By default, all fields are selected. You can exclude a particular field from being imported—for example, if it is not relevant to your analysis or contains confidential information. To exclude a field, select it in the data preview area and then clear the Import Field check box. You can change the field name—for example, if you want to make it shorter or more meaningful. To rename a field, select the field it in the data preview area and then edit the text in the Field Name box. This step is not available if you choose Merge into previously imported dataset because the settings are based on the dataset you are merging into. |
| Step 4
|
Review the default Name. This will be the name of the dataset once it is imported into NVivo. If you want, you can change the name. You can also enter a Description to describe the survey—it becomes one of the dataset source properties. This step is not available if you choose Merge into previously imported dataset because the settings are based on the dataset you are merging into. |
NOTE
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You only need to authorize SurveyMonkey once during the current NVivo session. If you close NVivo, you will need to enter the username and password again next time you import from SurveyMonkey.
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Some SurveyMonkey plans allow you to set up questions with a random assignment feature. If you import responses to these questions, the variations on the question are not imported, so the responses may be difficult to interpret. You can exclude these questions in step 3 of the Wizard.
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SurveyMonkey may restrict the number of responses you can import based on your plan type.
Understand how responses are imported as datasets
During import, the analysis type (codable or classifying) is automatically assigned based on the SurveyMonkey question type. The analysis type is assigned as follows:
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Open-ended questions, such as text or comment boxes are imported as codable fields.
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Closed-ended questions, such as multiple choice or rating questions, become classifying fields, which you can sort or filter.
For more information on the differences between codable and classifying fields, refer to Learn about codable and classifying fields.
The data type (for example, Text or Date/Time) is also automatically assigned based on the question type.
Once your survey results are imported into NVivo as a dataset, you can analyze the data in a number of ways. For example, you could gather the responses to each question or gather responses based on demographic values of the respondents. For ideas on analyzing survey results in NVivo, refer to Approaches to analyzing survey results.
Importing multiple times from the same survey
You can import responses from the same survey multiple times. When you do this, you can merge the new responses into an existing dataset containing other responses from the same survey. This can be useful in a number of situations, for example:
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You import the completed responses collected from a survey that is still open. Later, you want to include the additional responses in your analysis.
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You imported a random sample of responses into your project. Later, you decide to include the remaining responses.
If you want to merge the additional responses into an existing dataset based on the same survey, make sure the Merge into previously imported dataset check box is selected (in step 2 of the Wizard), otherwise a new dataset will be created when you import.
If you have previously imported responses from the same survey into more than one dataset, you can choose which dataset you want to merge the additional responses into.
If you excluded fields when you originally imported the survey data, then, when you merge, those fields are automatically excluded for you.
Responses that have changed in SurveyMonkey after you originally imported them are not updated in the dataset that you merge into.
Why can't I see the date my survey was created or modified?
SurveyMonkey made changes in October 2016 which affect the ability for NVivo to display accurate information about the dates your surveys were created or modified. The list of surveys displayed in the Wizard no longer shows the correct date information—for example, the Created field displays '01-01-01'.