Audience research
Part of Audience research for a parenting publication that studies the adult reader, not the child
Jisc Online Surveys, SmartSurvey, Microsoft Forms and Google Forms for adult parenting research
Compare four survey services for adult parenting research by access control, logic, export, accessibility, safeguards and declared data location.
No survey service removes the publisher's responsibility for the questions, lawful basis, participant information, access controls and deletion plan. For a small adult-reader study, choose the service that satisfies a written data assessment and the few features the research design genuinely needs. Do not collect children's details simply because the form allows it.
What to take away
- No survey service removes the publisher's responsibility for lawful basis, access controls and deletion.
- Jisc Online Surveys offers the most detailed declared research-service record in this comparison.
- SmartSurvey stores core survey data in UK data centres, but optional features can alter processing.
- Microsoft Forms and Google Forms may suit existing teams, but tenant settings and storage need checking.
- Draft a form with invented test data before collecting real personal data.
Comparison method and limits
This desk review checked supplier pages on 5 September 2026. Four services qualified: each had an accessible first-party record covering response collection or export, and each could be used from England.
Desk review scope and limits
- Supplier pages checked 5 September 2026
- Four services qualified for comparison
- Compared on five questions
- Prices excluded from shortlist
- No account opened or tested
They were compared on five questions: who can respond, routing or validation, export, accessibility information and declared storage.
Prices were excluded because plans change and are not needed for the initial shortlist.
No account was opened and no form, deletion request, assistive-technology journey or security control was tested. Feature claims below belong to the suppliers. A buyer must check its contract, processor terms, sub-processors and current plan before collecting personal data.
Jisc Online Surveys
Jisc's current feature table lists public links, respondent lists, password protection, conditional display, answer validation and downloads in CSV, XLSX, SPSS and PDF. The particular access and response limits vary by subscription.
Its security page says account and survey data is held in AWS in the Republic of Ireland, encrypted in transit and at rest. Backups last 30 days.
Jisc also publishes a June 2026 accessibility statement: partial WCAG 2.2 AA compliance, with named exceptions. This is the most detailed declared research-service record in this comparison, not proof it fits every creator's risk profile.
SmartSurvey
SmartSurvey's customer data guide states that core survey data is stored and processed in UK data centres, while optional AI, integrations, APIs and webhooks can alter processing arrangements. That distinction matters if a publisher is promising UK-only handling.
The supplier's export guide describes raw-data filters, respondent-detail controls and a way to distinguish unanswered questions from those bypassed by skip logic. Confirm which functions are in the chosen plan and obtain the current accessibility documentation before relying on it.
Microsoft Forms
Microsoft's response-access guide describes open links, organisation-only responses and anonymous collection options, with some controls limited to work or education subscriptions. Its export instructions send responses to Excel.
This can suit a team already governed through Microsoft 365, but the product page alone does not settle where a particular tenant's data is stored or who can access the resulting workbook. Check tenant settings, sharing permissions, retention and contractual terms with the administrator.
Google Forms
Google's Forms guidance lists optional email collection, domain restriction, response summaries and CSV or Google Sheets output. Its response-storage page warns that access to a linked spreadsheet does not automatically stay synchronised with later form-permission changes.
That separation can create an overlooked copy of family research. The global help pages do not promise England or UK storage for a particular account. Confirm Workspace terms, region controls if available and deletion across both the form and linked sheet.
Make the choice after a small trial
Draft a form using invented test data. Check keyboard completion, screen-reader labels, mobile display, consent wording, skip routes, export fields, user access and deletion from every copy. The ICO's data minimisation principle still applies regardless of supplier claims.
If a survey asks about a child's health, exact location or online account, pause the project and seek qualified review. Often the safer fix is to ask an adult about the decision they faced and remove the child's identifying information altogether.
Before you act
- Check the supplier's current contract, processor terms and sub-processors.
- Confirm where data is stored for your specific account and plan.
- Test keyboard completion, screen-reader labels and mobile display.
- Verify consent wording, skip routes, export fields and user access.
- Ensure deletion from every copy, including linked spreadsheets.
- Avoid collecting children's details simply because the form allows it.
Common questions
Which survey service has the most detailed declared research-service record?
Jisc Online Surveys has the most detailed declared research-service record in this comparison. Its feature table lists public links, respondent lists, password protection, conditional display, answer validation and downloads. Its security page says data is stored in AWS in the Republic of Ireland, encrypted, with backups kept for 30 days. It also publishes a June 2026 accessibility statement.
What should I check before relying on SmartSurvey for UK-only data handling?
SmartSurvey's customer data guide states that core survey data is stored and processed in UK data centres. However, optional AI, integrations, APIs and webhooks can alter processing arrangements. That distinction matters if you are promising UK-only handling. Confirm which functions are in your chosen plan and obtain current accessibility documentation before relying on it.
What practical steps should I take before choosing a survey service?
Draft a form using invented test data. Check keyboard completion, screen-reader labels, mobile display, consent wording, skip routes, export fields, user access and deletion from every copy. The ICO's data minimisation principle still applies regardless of supplier claims. If a survey asks about a child's health, exact location or online account, pause the project and seek qualified review.
