What is the difference between a survey and a questionnaire?

Factual Questions
1

I completed some very basic units in scientific research methods for my bachelor degree but find that a lot of the information from these units is but a distant hazy memory.

Now my dreaminess is coming back to haunt me because I feel that the topic of “What is the difference between a survey and a questionnaire?” could possibly arise in an upcoming job interview I have.

Can anyone enlighten me?

2

A survey (normally) uses questionnaires to collect the information desired, but a questionnaire can be used for things other than surveys (applying for credit cards, getting insurance, etc.)

3

A survey is a means to determine “the lay of the land,” literally or figuratively. In the figurative use that’s meant here, it refers to identifying the views, opinions, or characteristics (especially demographic ones) of a given populace, in particular those which accomplish this by the use of well-crafted samples. And it includes any means of determining what those views, opinions, or characteristics are: personal interviews, exit polls, questionnaires, indirect methods, etc.

A questionnaire is, of course, a specific means of conducting a survey or otherwise garnering needed information (see dmartin’s examples of non-survey questionnaires), and simply consists of a series of questions along with instructions for answering them which are asked of multiple persons.

4

I have always distinguished between the two in that a SURVEY is used to gather data that at least in part is used to draw general conclusions. You conduct a customer satisfaction survey so you can figure out things like “Our repairs department score 7.7, which is higher than they rated the sales department at 7.2, but they really liked the new colors we rolled out in 2005, styling got an average score of 8.3.”

A QUESTIONNAIRE is used to gather information about you, specifically. Name, address, etc. A survey can include a questionnaire.

5

Thanks for the quick response dmartin, Polycarp and RickJay.

Now that the distinction between the two is clear to me, I’m sure it won’t come up in the interview!

But that’s one little bit of ignorance that has been fought today…

6

Unlike a questionnaire, a survey is simply the collection of any kind of data and can be carried out without asking questions or even informing the participants; passively counting the rate of footfall through a shop doorway is a survey.
The term survey can also be used to describe the collection of data other than that related to human behaviour; for example geology, weather and animal behaviour can all be surveyed.

7

To extend this a little. You can also conduct a survey of how many highway bridges are more than 20 years old, or are in need of urgent repair. Or you can conduct a survery of department store income as to how much comes from furniture, hardware, sports equipment, men’s clothing, shoes etc. As the cite above said, as survey can use questionaires to gather data, but it’s not necessary that one is used.