Intro to Google Forms

Last updated: February 2022

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Creating a New Form

In Google Drive, select New > Google Forms, then choose from "Blank form," "Blank quiz," or "From a template."

Setting the Name and Description

Enter a form title.

Below the form title, enter a description or instructions.

Adding Questions

There are 9 different types of questions:

  • Short Answer: Small text box

  • Paragraph: Large text box

  • Multiple Choice: User can select one answer (users can enter their own text with "Other")

  • Checkboxes: User can select multiple answers (users can enter their own text with "Other")

  • Dropdown: Users selects 1 choice from a dropdown list

  • File Upload: Users can upload a file

  • Linear scale: Number/label scale; user chooses one option

    • Enter the starting point (0 or 1)

    • Enter the ending point (up to 10)

    • Labels can be entered for the endpoints of your scale, such as “Disagree the most” and “Agree the most”, or “Lowest ranking” and “Highest ranking”

  • Multiple choice grid: User is presented with a table-like format where they choose one answer per row

    • Choose number of columns and labels for each column

    • Enter rows and questions/labels for each row

  • Checkbox grid: User is presented with a table-like format where they choose one answer per row

    • Choose number of columns and labels for each column

    • Enter rows and questions/labels for each row

  • Date: User chooses a date from a calendar grid

  • Time: User selects time or duration using drop down menu/arrows

    • Choose either the time of day format

    • Duration format with hours, minutes, and seconds

Question Examples

Expand the list for examples of the question types available in Google Forms.

Duplicating a Question

Use this to copy the current question. Can be used to quickly create additional questions using the same format.

Require Users to Answer Questions before Submitting

This option requires users to answer this question before they can submit the form.

Form Menu

From top to bottom:

  1. Add a question

  2. Import questions

  3. Add title or description (within the form)

  4. Add an image

  5. Add a video

  6. Add a page break/section break

Previewing the Form

Use the eyeball icon to preview what the form will look like to users. It will open in a new browser tab.

Conditional Questioning

Conditional questioning is when the form goes to a specific section of questions based on the user’s answer to a question. For example, if they answer "Yes," it goes to Section 2; if they answer "No," it goes to Section 3.

1. Create all the sections for the question items and the sections that will be used to direct the user, based on what they answer (Section 1, Section 2, Section 3, etc.).

2. Once all the form items are created and are in the correct sections, then you set up conditionals. On the question, choose the 3 dots (lower right)

3. Choose “Go to Section Based on Answer”

4. Lastly, next to each answer, click the dropdown arrow and choose the section to go to after answering.

Customizing the Appearance

Use the painter's palette icon to customize the form appearance.

  • Header: Can choose an image for a header banner

  • Theme Color

  • Background Color

  • Font Style

Form Settings

Use the "Settings" tab above the form to add or edit additional settings.

Send the Form to Others

Use the "Send" button to invite participants to fill out the form.

Disable Responses

To stop accepting responses, open the "Responses" tab, then toggle off "Accepting responses."