How to Create a Physical Activity Questionnaire for Students

Learn how to create a physical activity questionnaire for students. Discover tips for crafting engaging, simple, and effective questions to gather insights on fitness habits and promote healthier student lifestyles.

A Physical Activity Questionnaire should assess activity frequency, type, and intensity.
A Physical Activity Questionnaire should assess activity frequency, type, and intensity.

Are you looking to promote healthier lifestyles among students while gathering actionable data on their physical activity habits? A physical activity questionnaire is your go-to tool. By collecting data on students’ fitness behaviors, interests, and barriers, you can make informed decisions to tailor programs that truly resonate with them.

In this article, we’ll explore why creating a physical activity questionnaire is vital, walk you through the process of designing one using HeyForm, and provide practical tips to ensure maximum engagement and insights.

Why Is a Physical Activity Questionnaire Important?

1. Accurate Assessment of Activity Levels

Understanding how often students engage in physical activity is essential for determining whether they meet the recommended 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day. Without this data, schools may overlook critical areas of need.

2. Boosting Student Health

Physical activity is closely tied to improved physical and mental health. It reduces the risk of chronic illnesses and enhances mood, focus, and overall well-being. A questionnaire helps identify opportunities to improve these outcomes for students.

3. Informing Tailored Programs

Every school community is unique. By collecting data on preferences, schools can design physical education programs that reflect students' interests, increasing participation and satisfaction.

4. Breaking Down Barriers

Students may face barriers to activity, such as lack of time, resources, or motivation. Questionnaires shed light on these obstacles, allowing schools to create solutions that make physical activity accessible to all.

5. Fostering Lifelong Habits

Early intervention plays a crucial role in developing habits. When schools use questionnaires to refine their physical activity programs, they’re investing in a healthier future for their students.

A physical activity questionnaire is important because it helps assess students' activity levels, identify barriers to exercise, and guide the development of tailored fitness programs.
A physical activity questionnaire is important because it helps assess students' activity levels, identify barriers to exercise, and guide the development of tailored fitness programs.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Physical Activity Questionnaire

1. Define Your Objectives

Ask yourself:

  • What do you want to learn?
  • Are you focused on measuring activity levels, understanding barriers, or collecting feedback on current programs?
Physical activity for students means setting clear goals, such as improving fitness, encouraging regular exercise, or promoting healthy habits.
Physical activity for students means setting clear goals, such as improving fitness, encouraging regular exercise, or promoting healthy habits.

Having a clear goal ensures your questionnaire is focused and effective.

2. Choose the Right Tool

Selecting the right platform can simplify the process. HeyForm is an intuitive, no-code form builder that allows you to design engaging questionnaires with ease. Its customization options, responsive templates, and robust analytics make it a perfect choice for educators.

  • Paper-Based Forms: Ideal for classroom distribution.
  • Online Forms: Use tools like HeyForm, which offers customizable templates and features like document uploads for consent forms or fitness logs.
  • Mobile Surveys: Accessible and convenient for tech-savvy students.

Pro Tip: An engaging conversational form with dropdowns, sliders, and checkboxes can make the process fun for students.

HeyForm is an open-source form builder that allows anyone to create engaging conversational forms for surveys, questionnaires, quizzes, and polls.

3. Draft Key Questions

Crafting the right questions is key. Use a mix of question types:

  • Demographic Questions: Collect information such as age, grade, and gender.
  • Closed-Ended Questions: “Do you participate in physical activities outside school?” (Yes/No)
  • Scaled Questions: “How enjoyable are PE classes for you on a scale of 1-5?”
  • Open-Ended Questions: “What physical activities do you enjoy the most?”

Activity Levels

Ask about their current habits:

  1. How many days per week do you engage in physical activity?
    •  0 days
    •  1–2 days
    •  3–4 days
    •  5 or more days
  2. On average, how much time do you spend being physically active per day?
    •  Less than 30 minutes
    •  30–60 minutes
    •  More than 60 minutes
  3. What type of activities do you usually do? (Select all that apply.)
    •  Walking
    •  Running
    •  Playing sports (e.g., basketball, soccer)
    •  Dancing
    •  Gym workouts
    •  Other (please specify): _______

Be concise and specific to ensure clarity.

4. Include These Must-Ask Questions

  • Activity Levels:
    • “How many days a week do you engage in physical activity outside school?”
    • “What sports or recreational activities do you participate in?”
  • Barriers:
    • “What prevents you from being more active? (e.g., lack of time, interest, or access).”
    • “Do you feel your school provides enough opportunities for physical activity?”
  • Motivations:
    • “What encourages you to stay active?”
    • “Do you prefer group activities, individual sports, or a mix?”
  • Future Preferences:
    • “What activities would you like to try at school?”
It refers to adding essential questions in a survey to collect the most relevant and meaningful information needed for analysis or decision-making.

Understand what motivates or discourages students:
What physical activities do you enjoy the most?
Are there any activities you would like to try but haven’t yet?
What prevents you from being more active? (Select all that apply.)

  •  Lack of time
  •  Lack of interest
  •  No access to facilities or equipment
  •  Health concerns
  •  Other (please specify): _______

5. Focus on Design and User Experience

A well-designed questionnaire encourages participation:

  • Visual Appeal: Use bright, clean layouts and relatable imagery.
  • Logical Flow: Start with general questions, then transition to more specific ones.
  • Mobile Optimization: Ensure your questionnaire works seamlessly on smartphones, as many students will access it this way.
Focusing on user experience (UX) and design means creating products that are easy to use, enjoyable, and relevant to the user. UX design is an iterative process that involves understanding the user's needs, goals, and frustrations to create a better experience.

6. Pilot Test and Refine

Run your questionnaire by a small group of students before full distribution. Gather feedback to identify unclear or redundant questions and make adjustments accordingly.

Pilot testing is a small-scale trial of a study or product to identify issues and areas for improvement before a full-scale implementation. It's also known as a "pre-test" or "trial run". 

7. Distribute Strategically

Use multiple channels to ensure students access the questionnaire:

  • School emails
  • QR codes in classrooms and hallways
  • Social media posts on school pages
Distribution strategies encompass the channels, outlets, and intermediaries utilized to physically transport goods along the supply chain. They also incorporate digital components like e-commerce platforms where transactions occur.

Add incentives like certificates, recognition, or small rewards to boost participation.

8. Analyze the Results

Once you collect responses, use HeyForm’s analytics tools to:

  • Identify trends, like common barriers or popular activities.
  • Spot gaps in your current programs.
  • Generate reports to share with stakeholders, such as administrators, teachers, or parent groups.
Create forms that adapt to user responses in real-time with conditional logic. 

Leveraging the Data

With actionable insights in hand, schools can:

  1. Update PE Programs: Add activities that students are genuinely interested in, like yoga or team sports.
  2. Improve Access: Address resource-related barriers, such as lack of equipment or safe spaces.
  3. Foster Inclusivity: Use demographic data to ensure every student feels included in physical activity opportunities.
  4. Create Support Systems: Encourage peer groups or mentor programs to motivate students who struggle with participation.

Conclusion

A physical activity questionnaire is more than just a survey; it’s a catalyst for change. By understanding the needs and preferences of your students, you can create a supportive, engaging, and inclusive environment that prioritizes health and well-being. With tools like HeyForm, building, distributing, and analyzing your questionnaire becomes an effortless process.

Ready to make a difference? Start your journey today by designing a physical activity questionnaire with HeyForm and take a proactive step toward promoting active lifestyles in your school.

FAQs

1. Why is a physical activity questionnaire essential?It helps schools assess activity levels, understand barriers, and design programs tailored to students' needs, ultimately fostering healthier lifestyles.

2. How long should the questionnaire be?Keep it concise with 10-15 questions to maintain engagement and avoid overwhelming respondents.

3. What should I include in the questionnaire?Cover demographic details, activity levels, barriers, motivations, and preferences for future activities.

4. How can I boost participation?Use incentives like certificates or recognition, ensure anonymity, and distribute through multiple channels like QR codes or emails.

5. Why should I use HeyForm for my questionnaire?HeyForm offers user-friendly features, customization, and analytics, making it easy to create engaging forms and analyze data effectively.

Take the first step today—build your questionnaire with HeyForm and inspire healthier, happier students!

HeyForm

Create a physical activity questionnaire for students with HeyForm! Customize questions to gather essential insights on student health, track activity levels, and promote a healthier school environment.

FREE Physical Activity Questionnaire for Students

Stay Connected

Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/HeyFormHQ
Join our community: HeyForm Community Forum
Subscribe to our newsletter: Stay updated with the latest tips on HeyForm and boost user engagement—optimize your forms and improve interactions effortlessly!