360 Questionnaire Design – Completion Time Considerations

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1. Respondent Fatigue

The longer the questionnaire, the greater the risk that quality deteriorates. Research consistently shows that on longer surveys:

• Respondents tend to spend less time per question as the survey progresses.
• Attention drops and “satisficing” behaviour increases, respondents focus on finishing quickly rather than providing thoughtful answers.
• Fatigue becomes more noticeable after 15–20 minutes of sustained effort.

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2. Respondent Motivation

Motivation plays a significant role in completion quality. Highly engaged respondents will spend more time and provide richer insights. To increase motivation:

• Communicate the “why”, explain the purpose and benefits of the feedback process.
• Encourage participants to personally request support from their respondents.
• Position the exercise as valuable to both the individual and the organisation.

Motivated respondents are more willing to complete slightly longer questionnaires without sacrificing quality.

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3. Attention Span

Attention span varies by individual and situation, but most research suggests around 20 minutes is the upper limit for sustained focus on a single task. Beyond this point, the risk of disengagement rises, regardless of motivation levels.

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4. Cost of Time

The average cost of labour within the UK (2025) was circa £17.40 per hour (£48.70 in the financial and insurance sectors and as low as £13.85 per hour in some sectors).

Therefore, assuming each 360 feedback survey has 10 contributors and takes about 20 minutes to complete, the total cost would be approximately:

• Higher-paid sectors – £162.30 per participant
• Average sectors – £58.00 per participant
• Lower labour cost sectors – £46.20 per participant

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5. Real-World Completion Times (10,937 Respondents)

We tracked the completion times of 10,937 respondents across 360 feedback questionnaires containing:

• 50 quantitative questions across five competency areas
• One qualitative (free text) question at the end of each area
• Three additional free text questions at the end (“Stop, Start, Continue”)

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5.1 Average Completion Times for Quantitative Questions

On average, the number of quantitative questions has a predictable impact on completion times:

• 30 questions → 9 minutes
• 40 questions → 10 minutes
• 50 questions → 12 minutes

Key insight: Adding more questions increases completion time, but the effect accelerates after 40 questions.

5.3 Free Text Completion Patterns

We also tracked the time it took each person to answer each of the free text (qualitative) questions. The average completion time was 3 mins and there was no significant difference in the completion time for each of the different questions.

Completion rates for free text questions varied significantly:

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6. Key Takeaways and Best Practice

Based on both research and real-world data:

• Aim for a total completion time of 20 minutes.
• Include around 40 quantitative questions, grouped into 3–4 competency areas.
• Add one free text box per competency area.
• Finish with two summarising free text questions — e.g., “Key strengths” and “Opportunities for development”.
• Actively engage respondents upfront to increase motivation and response quality.

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FAQs on 360 Feedback Questionnaire Completion Times

Q. How long should a 360 feedback questionnaire take to complete?

A. A 360 feedback questionnaire should take no more than 20 minutes to complete.

The key reasons why are:

• 15–20 mins = best response quality
• After 20 mins, attention and feedback quality drop significantly
• Longer surveys increase fatigue and rushed responses

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Q. How many questions should a 360 feedback survey include to keep the total completion time around 20 minutes?

A. Include approximately 40 questions across 3–4 competency areas, with one free text box per area and two summary free text questions at the end.

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