Multiquestion

Multiquestion is a format or concept in which a single item presents multiple questions or subquestions designed to collect related information efficiently. It is used across educational assessments, surveys, and data-collection tools to capture several responses anchored to a common context. In a typical multiquestion item, a stem or prompt is followed by several sub-questions, which may be presented as text entries, multiple choice options, or rating scales. Some designs group subquestions under a single scenario or task to maintain coherence and reduce context switching. Data from multiquestion items can be analyzed together or separately, depending on scoring rules.

Common use cases include classroom assessments that require students to answer several related prompts within one item, or surveys where a single topic is explored through multiple facets, such as satisfaction, importance, and frequency. In digital formats, multiquestion items are often implemented as matrix or grid questions, or as a set of linked questions with dependent logic.

Advantages include improved efficiency in data collection, better contextual consistency across subquestions, and easier cross-subquestion analysis. Potential drawbacks include respondent fatigue from long items, design complexity, and challenges in interpreting interdependencies among subquestions. Careful item construction—clear prompts, balanced response scales, appropriate branching, and accessibility considerations—helps mitigate these risks.

See also: multi-part question, matrix question, multipart item, survey design.