Fun This or That Questions You Can Use in Surveys

Sometimes you need a quick way to get people talking or to capture a preference. Enter the this or that question. These simple either–or choices (“Coffee or tea?”) are a hit at parties, in icebreaker games and even in market research. They’re fun because there are no right or wrong answers—just personal preferences. When used strategically in surveys, they can increase response rates and help you understand audience tastes.

Why this‑or‑that works

This‑or‑that questions tap into our natural instinct to choose. Unlike open‑ended questions, which require more thought, an either–or format makes participation effortless. People often enjoy choosing sides and comparing their choices with others. In a survey, this format can break monotony and keep respondents engaged.

From a research perspective, binary choices generate clean, easy‑to‑analyse data. They’re perfect for quick polls on social media or product‑preference studies. However, they should complement, not replace, more nuanced questions. When you need depth, incorporate follow‑ups or open‑ended fields. You can combine these with more reflective queries to balance the tone.

Ideas for this‑or‑that questions

Here are some categories and examples to inspire your next poll or icebreaker:

Food and drink

Coffee or tea?
Sweet or savoury snacks?
Pizza with pineapple or no pineapple?

Lifestyle and habits

Early bird or night owl?
Paper books or e‑books?
Home workout or gym membership?

Entertainment and culture

Movies or TV series?
Fantasy novels or science fiction?
Concerts or podcasts?

Work and productivity

Email or instant messaging?
Working from home or at the office?
Brainstorm alone or in a group?

Wildcards

These can be offbeat or humorous questions that reveal personality:

Live on Mars or deep under the sea?
Teleportation or time travel?
Never use a smartphone again or never watch TV again?

When crafting your own questions, consider your audience and context. A corporate survey might stick to work‑related topics, while a community poll could get sillier. Keep options mutually exclusive and avoid including a catch‑all “other” response—otherwise you dilute the fun choice.

Using this‑or‑that in surveys and polls

Here’s how to leverage these questions effectively:

Sprinkle them throughout longer surveys. They break up sections and keep respondents engaged.
Use them on social media. Quick polls on Instagram or Twitter boost engagement and can drive traffic to longer surveys.
Pair them with follow‑ups. After asking “Coffee or tea?” you might follow up with “Why?” or “How do you drink your favourite beverage?” to collect richer insights.
Compare results by segment. You might discover that remote workers prefer instant messaging while in‑office employees lean toward email. Cross‑tabulate responses to find patterns.

For guidance on building robust surveys that mix question types, see our FAQs on How to make an anonymous survey and How to create a registration form. Those guides illustrate how to structure a form that balances multiple choice, rating scales and open text fields.

Beyond fun: business applications

This‑or‑that questions may seem frivolous, but they can be powerful in market research. For example, a cosmetics brand might ask customers whether they prefer matte or glossy lipstick to determine which product line to expand. An HR department could ask employees if they want virtual town halls or in‑person meetings to plan events. Each choice delivers actionable data in a digestible form.

You can also use binary questions to gauge sentiment on sensitive topics when anonymity matters. By giving respondents two defined options, you reduce the risk of ambiguous answers. For more on ensuring anonymity, check our FAQ Are employee surveys really anonymous?.

Wrap‑up

This‑or‑that questions are versatile tools. They lighten the mood, encourage participation and generate tidy data. When mixed with other question types, they help create engaging surveys and conversations. Use the examples above as a starting point and adapt them to fit your audience, whether you’re planning a get‑to‑know‑you session with friends or designing a customer feedback form.