Overview
Here we provide some basic instructions for:
- Creating, branding, and sending a Google Forms survey
- Setting up an event RSVP in Google Forms
- Setting up an anonymous feedback survey in Google Forms
Getting started with Google Forms
You can use your USC Google account to quickly set up a Google Forms survey, and there is no limit to the number of forms/surveys you can create.
Creating a Google Forms survey
Quick guide
- Log in at https://usc.edu/googledrive.
- In the upper left corner, click on + New.
- Click on Google Forms.
- Google creates a new blank form with a single question
- Click on Untitled form to give the survey a name. Click on Form description to give the survey a description.
To add a question:
- Locate the vertical toolbar on the right side of the form.
- Click on the + icon at the top of the vertical toolbar.
- A new question in "Multiple choice" format is added. To change the format, edit the question.
To edit a question:
- Click on any question to select it.
- Click on the Question field and type a question.
- Click on Option 1 to type an answer choice, then click on Add option as needed to keep adding choices.
- To choose a different answer format, click on Multiple choice and select another format from the dropdown.
- At the bottom of the question are several icons:
- Duplicate icon: Create a new question with the same options as the existing question.
- Trash icon: Delete the existing question.
- Required: Make the question mandatory by clicking on the toggle.
To preview the entire survey:
- In the upper right corner of the page, click on the eye icon.
- The survey preview opens in a new tab.
Branding a Google Forms survey
Quick guide
- Log in at https://usc.edu/googledrive.
- Locate and open the survey.
- In the upper right corner of the page, click on the palette icon.
- The "Theme options" panel opens on the right side of the form:
- To add a logo or header:
- Click on Choose image under "Header."
- The "Select Header" window opens.
- Select an existing image or, to upload your own, click on Upload.
- Click on Browse and select an image from your computer.
- Click on Done.
- Under "Theme Color," select a color or click on + to add your own custom color. When you add or change the header image, the theme color options automatically update.
- Under "Background Color," select a color. When you change the theme color, the background color options automatically update.
Detailed guide (with screenshots)
- Log in at https://usc.edu/googledrive.
- Locate and open the survey.
- In the upper right corner of the page, click on the palette icon.
- The "Theme options" panel opens on the right side of the form:
- To add a logo or header:
- Click on Choose image under "Header."
- The "Select Header" window opens.
- Select an existing image or, to upload your own, click on Upload.
- Click on Browse and select an image from your computer.
- Click on Done.
- Under "Theme Color," select a color or click on + to add your own custom color. When you add or change the header image, the theme color options automatically update.
- Under "Background Color," select a color. When you change the theme color, the background color options automatically update.
Sending a Google Forms survey
Quick guide
- Log in at https://usc.edu/googledrive.
- Locate and open the survey.
- First, confirm the survey response settings:
- In the upper right corner of the page, click on the gear icon.
- The "Settings" window opens:
-
Collect email addresses: If you want survey responses to be anonymous, keep this checkbox deselected.
-
Restrict to users in University of Southern California and its trusted organizations: If you want only USC individuals to submit responses, keep this checkbox selected. Otherwise, deselect this checkbox.
-
Limit to 1 response: If you want to prevent individuals from responding more than once, select this checkbox.
- Click on Save.
- Now, copy the survey link:
- In the upper right corner of the page, click on Send.
- The "Send form" window opens:
-
Automatically collect respondent's University of Southern California email address: If you want survey responses to be anonymous, keep this checkbox deselected.
- Click on the link icon.
- (Optional) Select the checkbox Shorten URL.
- Click on Copy.
- Send the survey link by pasting it into an email to your respondents.
Detailed guide (with screenshots)
- Log in at https://usc.edu/googledrive.
- Locate and open the survey.
- First, confirm the survey response settings:
- In the upper right corner of the page, click on the gear icon.
- The "Settings" window opens:
-
Collect email addresses: If you want survey responses to be anonymous, keep this checkbox deselected.
-
Restrict to users in University of Southern California and its trusted organizations: If you want only USC individuals to submit responses, keep this checkbox selected. Otherwise, deselect this checkbox.
-
Limit to 1 response: If you want to prevent individuals from responding more than once, select this checkbox.
- Click on Save.
- Now, copy the survey link:
- In the upper right corner of the page, click on Send.
- The "Send form" window opens:
-
Automatically collect respondent's University of Southern California email address: If you want survey responses to be anonymous, keep this checkbox deselected.
- Click on the link icon.
- (Optional) Select the checkbox Shorten URL.
- Click on Copy.
- Send the survey link by pasting it into an email to your respondents.
Creating an event RSVP form in Google Forms
The steps below walk you through setting up an event RSVP form with the following settings:
- Anyone (with or without a USC account) may fill out the survey
- Respondent names and email addresses are collected (i.e. responses are not anonymous)
Quick guide
- Log in at https://usc.edu/googledrive.
- In the upper left corner, click on + New.
- Click on Google Forms.
- Set up the survey (fill out the title, questions, choices, etc).
- For the respondent's name, include a question in Short answer format and select the toggle for Required.
- For the respondent's email address, include a question in Short answer format and select the toggle for Required. To the right of the "Required" toggle, click on the 3-dot icon and select Response validation. Select Text and Email address.
- Make the survey open to non-USC respondents:
- In the upper right corner of the page, click on the gear icon.
- The "Settings" window opens. Under "Requires sign in," deselect the checkbox for Restrict to users in University of Southern California and its trusted organizations.
- Click on Save.
- Copy and send the survey link:
- In the upper right corner of the page, click on Send.
- The "Send form" window opens. Click on the link icon.
- (Optional) If you will be distributing the link via social media post, you may want to select the checkbox for Shorten URL.
- Click on Copy.
- Send the survey link by pasting it into an email to your respondents. You can also paste the link on a website or in a social media post.
Detailed guide (with screenshots)
- Log in at https://usc.edu/googledrive.
- In the upper left corner, click on + New.
- Click on Google Forms.
- Set up the survey (fill out the title, questions, choices, etc).
- For the respondent's name, include a question in Short answer format and select the toggle for Required.
- For the respondent's email address, include a question in Short answer format and select the toggle for Required.
- To the right of the "Required" toggle, click on the 3-dot icon and select Response validation.
- Select Text and Email address.
- Make the survey open to non-USC respondents:
- In the upper right corner of the page, click on the gear icon.
- The "Settings" window opens. Under "Requires sign in," deselect the checkbox for Restrict to users in University of Southern California and its trusted organizations.
- Click on Save.
- Copy and send the survey link:
- In the upper right corner of the page, click on Send.
- The "Send form" window opens. Click on the link icon.
- (Optional) If you will be distributing the link via social media post, you may want to select the checkbox for Shorten URL.
- Click on Copy.
- Send the survey link by pasting it into an email to your respondents. You can also paste the link on a website or in a social media post.
Creating an anonymous feedback survey in Google Forms
The steps below walk you through setting up an anonymous survey for feedback or voting with the following settings:
- Respondents must log into their USC account in order to access the survey
- Each USC account may only fill out and submit the survey once
- Account information is not recorded, so responses are anonymous
Quick guide
- Log in at https://usc.edu/googledrive.
- In the upper left corner, click on + New.
- Click on Google Forms.
- Set up the survey (fill out the title, questions, choices, etc). Make sure you do not ask for any identifying information from the respondent, such as name or contact information.
- Edit the survey settings:
- In the upper right corner of the page, click on the gear icon.
- The "Settings" window opens.
- Keep the checkbox deselected for Collect email addresses.
- Keep the checkbox selected for Restrict to users in University of Southern California and its trusted organizations.
- Select the checkbox for Limit to 1 response.
- Click on Save.
- Copy and send the survey link:
- In the upper right corner of the page, click on Send.
- The "Send form" window opens.
- Keep the checkbox deselected for Automatically collect respondent's University of Southern California email address.
- Click on the link icon.
- Click on Copy.
- Send the survey link by pasting it into an email to your respondents.
Detailed guide (with screenshots)
- Log in at https://usc.edu/googledrive.
- In the upper left corner, click on + New.
- Click on Google Forms.
- Set up the survey (fill out the title, questions, choices, etc). Make sure you do not ask for any identifying information from the respondent, such as name or contact information.
- Edit the survey settings:
- In the upper right corner of the page, click on the gear icon.
- The "Settings" window opens.
- Keep the checkbox deselected for Collect email addresses.
- Keep the checkbox selected for Restrict to users in University of Southern California and its trusted organizations.
- Select the checkbox for Limit to 1 response.
- Click on Save.
- Copy and send the survey link:
- In the upper right corner of the page, click on Send.
- The "Send form" window opens.
- Keep the checkbox deselected for Automatically collect respondent's University of Southern California email address.
- Click on the link icon.
- Click on Copy.
- Send the survey link by pasting it into an email to your respondents.
Additional resources