Create a Card Sort question in a modern survey

Ask participants to organize a set of cards into categories.

Note: This article applies to modern surveys. For more information about creating a Card Sort question in a classic survey, see Create a Single Choice Grid Cards question.

Modern survey (desktop):

1. From the Survey Builder Toolbox, under Advanced Questions, do one of the following:
   • Drag the Card Sort question to the Table of Contents.
   • Click the Card Sort question.
   
2. In the Table of Contents, click the Card Sort question.
   The Edit Pane appears.
3. Optional: Edit the Question name.

   Question names:

   • Should be unique
   • Can contain all alphanumeric characters and all symbols
   • Are not displayed to participants

   Note: The recommended character limit is 100.
4. In the Question text field, enter the question text.
   Note: The recommended character limit is 2500.
5. Select the card sort type.

   • Closed card sort

     Participants sort cards into categories you have created.

   • Open card sort

     Participants sort cards into categories they create.

     Note: This feature is available at an additional cost. If you are interested in this feature, please contact your Customer Success Manager.

   • Hybrid card sort

     Participants sort cards into categories you have created, and can also create their own.

     Note: This feature is available at an additional cost. If you are interested in this feature, please contact your Customer Success Manager.
6. In the Cards section, add your cards.
   Cards can display text, images, or both. However, image-only cards must still have an answer label for reporting display purposes. You can have a maximum of 100 cards. The suggested maximum character count for each category label is 50.
   • Click Add card to add more cards.
   • Type the card text and press Enter to move on to the next card.
   • To enter multiple cards at once, click the options menu and select Add Cards in Batch.

     For more information, see Add answers in a batch.

   • Add images to the cards by clicking the Add Image buttons on the right-hand side.

     For more information, see Add an image to an answer.

     Tip: To create an image-only card, click the options menu beside the card and select Image Only.
   • To add a hover-over tooltip to a card, click the options menu beside a card and select Add Tooltip description.
     Tip: Keep the card text short and use tooltips to add longer descriptions. This can help with readability on mobile devices.
     

     A box appears below the card and allows you to type, edit, or delete a tooltip.

     
   • Change the card order by clicking on the dotted area on the left-hand side of a card, and dragging the card up or down.
   • Alternately, change the card order by clicking the options menu beside a card and selecting Move up or Move down.
   • Click Delete beside a card to delete it.
7. Edit card behavior.
   • Show cards in authored, random, or rotated order.
   • Choose how many cards to show to each participant.
   • Choose how many cards participants are required to sort.
8. If you are authoring a closed or hybrid Card Sort question, in the Categories section, add your categories.
   You can have a maximum of 20 predefined categories. The suggested maximum character count for each category label is 255.
   • Click Add category to add more categories.
   • Type the category text and press Enter to move on to the next category.
   • To enter multiple categories at once, click the options menu and select Add Categories in Batch.

     For more information, see Add answers in a batch.

   • Change the category order by clicking on the dotted area on the left-hand side of a category, and dragging the card up or down.
   • Alternately, change the category order by clicking the options menu beside a category and selecting Move up or Move down.
   • Click Delete beside a card to delete it.
9. Edit category behavior.
   • Show categories in authored, random, or rotated order.

   • If you are authoring an open or hybrid Card Sort question, set the Min and max number of participant-created categories.

     Open and hybrid Card Sort questions can have a maximum of 20 participant-created categories.

10. Optional: Once you have authored your question, you can also:
    • Format the question
    • Add a question image
    • Pipe answers or variables into the question or answer text
    • Hide the question
    • Duplicate the question
    • Delete the question
11. Optional: To preview the question in desktop or mobile view, in the Edit Pane, click Preview.
    
    A preview of your survey appears, starting with the selected question.

    Note: Preview in mobile view simulates the mobile experience. For best results, preview your question on a mobile device.

Note: Large Card Sort questions with many cards and categories can be difficult to complete on mobile devices. Always test your Card Sort question in mobile view to see if adjustments need to be made.

If you expect the majority of responses to come from mobile participants, keep the Card Sort questions on the smaller side. Shorten card text if possible. Show participants a subset of cards in random or rotated order. Alternately, consider ways you can chunk a large Card Sort question into a series of smaller ones.

Parent topic: Card Sort questions in modern surveys

Related information

• Card Sort questions in modern surveys
• Card Sort questions and usability testing: Best practices
• Reporting on Card Sort question results