Jisc Online Surveys adds a 'None of the above' option, and why it matters for student feedback data quality

Updated Sep 07, 2026

Jisc added a “None of the above” option for multiple-answer Choice questions in Online Surveys v3.37.0 on 5 May 2026. Its explanatory announcement followed on 6 May. Change log; product announcement.

How the option behaves

The option is exclusive: selecting it clears the other choices, and selecting another answer clears it. This prevents that specific combination of conflicting selections. It does not establish that the response is accurate or that the question covers every relevant experience.

The announcement explains a product capability, rather than reporting an evaluation of student trust, response rates or institutional data quality.

Choose the meaning before adding the option

Our practical suggestion is to distinguish “none apply” from “I do not know”, “I prefer not to answer” and “another answer is missing”. Decide which meanings the question needs to capture instead of treating them as interchangeable.

Ask students to test the answer list and explain their choices. Our staff–student evaluation redesign summary offers a related approach to discussing questionnaire wording.

Check the exported values and document how analysts will treat the exclusive response and unanswered questions. If a template changes between cycles, record the introduction date and explain it alongside any trend. Do not assume that a changed percentage reflects a changed experience.

Comments can provide additional context, including examples that were missing from the answer list. They do not automatically validate the closed responses or make different questionnaire versions comparable. The governance checklist can support documentation of these decisions.

Review note, 7 September 2026: verified the release and announcement dates and exclusive-selection behaviour. Removed unsupported claims that the feature necessarily improves trust, engagement or the reliability of surrounding comment analysis.