How to Collect Participant Names Without Linking to Microsoft Forms Responses
Question details
The user needs to collect respondent names for a prize drawing without compromising the anonymity of their survey answers in Microsoft Forms.
- Product
- Microsoft Forms
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating a survey where anonymity is crucial for honest feedback, but a separate requirement exists to gather names for a giveaway or raffle.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft Forms does not have a built-in feature to separate identity questions from survey responses within the same form.
Ensure you have access to your Microsoft Forms dashboard and are prepared to create two separate forms to successfully detach identities from survey responses.
Use a Two-Form Redirect Approach
Create an anonymous survey and use the 'Thank You' message to redirect respondents to a completely separate form just for the prize drawing.
Since Microsoft Forms records all answers from a single form in the same row of a spreadsheet, asking for a name directly in your survey breaks anonymity. The most reliable workaround is to use two distinct forms linked together.
Open Microsoft Forms and create your main survey. Click the three dots (More form settings) in the top right corner, select 'Settings', and ensure 'Record name' is unchecked so responses remain anonymous.
Go back to the Microsoft Forms dashboard and create a second, separate form. Add a text question asking for the participant's name or email address for the prize drawing.
On your newly created prize drawing form, click the 'Collect responses' button and copy the URL provided.
Return to your initial anonymous survey. Go to Settings, check 'Customize thank you message', and paste the link to your prize drawing form along with a message like: 'Thank you for your anonymous feedback! Click here to enter the prize drawing: [Link]'.
Try WPS Office for Seamless Document and Data Management
While Microsoft Forms requires workarounds for advanced anonymity features, managing the resulting data exports doesn't have to be a hassle. WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and powerful alternative to Microsoft Office for organizing your survey spreadsheets and reports.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the installer for your operating system.
- 2. Install the Application: Run the downloaded file and follow the simple on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
- 3. Open Survey Results: Export your Microsoft Forms results to an Excel file and open it instantly with WPS Spreadsheets to analyze your data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Power Automate to hide names in Microsoft Forms?
While Power Automate can send form data to different locations, it cannot change the fact that the initial Microsoft Forms submission links the name and answers together in the backend. The form owner would still have access to the original unseparated data, meaning it is not truly anonymous.
How do I make sure my Microsoft Form is completely anonymous?
To ensure anonymity, open your form, click the three-dot menu for Settings, and look under the 'Who can fill out this form' section. Make sure the 'Record name' option is unchecked.
Will respondents have to sign in twice using the two-form method?
If your organization requires a login to access forms, they will only sign in once to access the Microsoft 365 environment. The transition from the first form to the second form will be seamless and will not prompt a second login screen.
