A survey is a structured method of collecting information from a group of people through questionnaires, either online or on paper. Surveys are widely used to capture participants’ views, experiences, and preferences in a systematic and scalable way. In co-design studies, surveys are often applied in the Discover phase to explore needs, attitudes, and barriers, and in the Deliver phase to evaluate usability, satisfaction, and impact of the developed intervention.

Application Example​

A study explored young people’s interest and expectations regarding a proposed smartphone app designed to protect and promote mental health and resilience in the face of risks associated with substance use. The research adopted an agile system development approach and integrated surveys in both the Discover and Deliver phases of the co-design process.

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Discover phase (exploring needs and expectations)
A large-scale anonymous survey questionnaire was distributed to 339 young adults (aged 18–30). The survey examined their potential interest in this type of app and collected preliminary views on needs and expectations. This helped identify target users, gauge overall demand, and shape initial design directions.​

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Deliver phase (evaluating usability and usefulness)
Following participatory design workshops and focus groups, a Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) survey was used to capture participants’ perceptions of the app’s proposed features. The survey assessed perceived usefulness, usability, and likelihood of adoption, and generated quantifiable feedback to refine the prototype and validate its core features. (Ben-Yehuda et al., 2022)