Collect Survey Response Data with a Public Link

Learn how to generate and share a public link for collecting survey responses online in PEARS.

PEARS allows you to create a publicly available link that participants can use to submit their survey responses online. This is useful for collecting responses remotely without needing to enter the data manually.

Set Up a Public Link

To enable online response collection, you must configure it when attaching the survey to the program activity.

1

Attach a Survey with Online Collection

When attaching a survey to a program activity, set the Collect Responses Online? field to Yes.

2

Set an Expiration Date (optional)

In the Expiration Date field, enter the date after which the public link will no longer accept responses. If no expiration date is set, the link remains active indefinitely.

3

Save the Attached Survey

Click Save to attach the survey with online response collection enabled. PEARS generates a unique public link for this survey.

Share the Public Link

1

Open the Attached Survey

On the Evaluation page of the program activity, find the attached survey in the list and click the Share button.

2

Copy the Link or QR Code

A dialog appears with:

• Public Link URL — Copy this URL and share it with participants via email, messaging, or any other method.

• QR Code — A scannable QR code that links to the survey. Participants can scan the QR code with their phone to open the survey directly.

TIP: Print the QR code and display it at your program activity location so participants can easily access the survey on their phones.

3

Distribute to Participants

Share the link or QR code with your program participants. When participants open the link, they will see the survey questions and can submit their responses directly. No PEARS account is required.

How Participant Responses Are Collected

When a participant submits a response through the public link:

• The response is automatically saved to the program activity in PEARS.

• The response count on the Evaluation page updates to reflect the new submission.

• The participant sees a confirmation page after submitting their response.

NOTE: If the public link has an expiration date and that date has passed, participants will not be able to submit responses. Update the expiration date or create a new link if you need to continue collecting responses.

Manage the Public Link

To modify or disable the public link for a survey, edit the attached survey and change the Collect Responses Online? setting.