In Attest surveys, respondents are always given the option to skip a question, regardless of question type. Unlike answer options such as Other, None, or N/A, the skip option cannot be turned off.
This design choice is intentional and supports both respondent experience and data quality.
Why respondents can skip questions
There are many valid reasons a respondent might choose to skip a question, including:
the question does not apply to them in a way you could not anticipate
they do not understand the question well enough to answer accurately
they are unsure or uncomfortable providing an answer
Allowing respondents to skip questions helps avoid forced or inaccurate responses, which can introduce noise into your data.
Skip vs Other, None, and N/A
While Other, None, and N/A can be toggled on or off depending on the question, Skip is always available.
Other allows respondents to provide an alternative answer
None indicates no listed option applies
N/A indicates the question does not apply
Skip allows respondents to move on without answering
These options serve different purposes, and skip acts as a final fallback when none of the provided answers are appropriate.
Data quality and engagement
While skipping questions is allowed, Attest also monitors respondent engagement.
There is a threshold at which skipping too many questions may indicate a lack of engagement. Respondents who exceed this threshold may be identified through quality checks and excluded, helping ensure that results reflect considered and meaningful responses.
Reviewing skip behaviour in your survey
If you notice high levels of skipping, it may indicate that:
questions are unclear or overly complex
answer options are incomplete
the survey is too long or demanding
Reviewing question wording, answer options, and overall survey length can help reduce unnecessary skipping.
Compass can help review question clarity and suggest improvements that may reduce skip rates, particularly for more complex or sensitive questions.
If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with your Customer Research Manager or by using the in-platform live chat.