HQ survey requiring log into Google account

[+daywalk]

Got an email today "Geocaching HQ’s User Experience team is looking to learn about how geocachers identify different geocache sizes. If you are open to sharing your thoughts, please fill out this 5 minute survey."

 

Trouble is, I then got a screen saying I had to log into "my Google account". Whatever that is, I don't have it and I don't want to download it. Why do they assume everyone has a "google account", especially as a tool like surveymonkey would have worked just as well without the limitation?

[+MartyBartfast]

Hmm, wonder if they're thinking of introducing the "nano" size after all this time?

 

ETA: Maybe not, just did it and no mention of Nano.

Edited June 20, 2017 by MartyBartfast

[+TriciaG]

EDIT: NVM. Didn't fully read.

Edited June 20, 2017 by TriciaG

[+WearyTraveler]

Share the link? I'd love to be involved...

[+MartyBartfast]

I think it's a unique form for each respondent, so if you used my link it would just tell you you've already submitted the form.

[+DragonsWest]

I responded to it right away.

 

Not expecting they'll take anything I take seriously. Nobody at GS seems to.

[+daywalk]

This is the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcWJBZvd5oh4XO5IEq_GmUd91xV2lZmgOrzDveGA9_VvR7Lg/viewform?c=0&w=1&usp=send_form

 

I've never seen a survey requiring a log-in to a third party. Another possibility someone has just mentioned is that it could be a scam, so be careful if you try the link. You'd certainly expect the Groundspeak Ltd marketing department to have the common sense to send out a survey everyone could answer!

[+Michaelcycle]

This is the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcWJBZvd5oh4XO5IEq_GmUd91xV2lZmgOrzDveGA9_VvR7Lg/viewform?c=0&w=1&usp=send_form

 

I've never seen a survey requiring a log-in to a third party. Another possibility someone has just mentioned is that it could be a scam, so be careful if you try the link. You'd certainly expect the Groundspeak Ltd marketing department to have the common sense to send out a survey everyone could answer!

 

That depends on the purpose of the survey. In this instance, perhaps, the experience of geocachers with some number of finds and above would be more useful than the preconceived notions of geocachers with minimal experience. Or not, I am not privy to the deliberations behind this survey. The point is that most surveys are targeted in some way (registered voters for example) so this one may be targeted to something more restrictive than "all registered members of this geocaching enterprise"

[+narcissa]

This is the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfcWJBZvd5oh4XO5IEq_GmUd91xV2lZmgOrzDveGA9_VvR7Lg/viewform?c=0&w=1&usp=send_form

 

I've never seen a survey requiring a log-in to a third party. Another possibility someone has just mentioned is that it could be a scam, so be careful if you try the link. You'd certainly expect the Groundspeak Ltd marketing department to have the common sense to send out a survey everyone could answer!

 

It's weird that they would require a log in to answer the survey, but they're likely sending the survey to a sample of their users. It's not necessary to poll every single user on the site in order to gather insights about a particular topic. Additionally, they are probably trying to be responsible about managing the volume of email that people receive. Blasting everyone with email indiscriminately causes people to unsubscribe and lowers the overall impact of their communications.

[+Mudfrog]

Didn't receive an invitation to take the survey but if i had, it wouldn't have been answered. It wanting me to log in to my Google account, or any other account, ain't gonna happen. I'm sure it's legitimate since this thread has gone on for a couple days without comment from GS. Even so, i see no reason to ask me to log in to Google to complete it.

[+JohnCNA]

I would assume they want your email address so they can verify that you don't take the survey more than once. The survey is written using Google Forms. I was not asked to log in to take the survey, since I am always logged into my Google account when I am using Chrome. It's not a very good survey platform if it requires a Google account login in order to take it. But there's nothing malevolent going on.

[+daywalk]

Thanks for your input, everybody. I got this response from a 'Community Manager'

 

I will relay this information to the responsible team. The reason you must login to your google account is because people who submit a response are limited to one response only. That is how google checks to make sure the survey is not duplicated.

 

I replied:

 

"That's not a reason for using a 'google account'. There are other ways of limiting survey responses to one response only. Limiting your survey spread to ONLY those people who have 'google account' is an excellent way of ensuring responder bias and therefore invalid results."

 

It's a relief to know this survey isn't a scam, but just the effort of a statistically-challenged staff member. Hopefully a better-designed survey will be sent out in due course?

[+kernow]

The link you sent did not require a login.I tried in an incognito window in chrome and it loaded without login.perhaps they changed it since they sent it.