Assessment vs. Survey — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 9, 2024
An assessment is a systematic evaluation or analysis often used to measure learning, skills, or performance, while a survey is a data collection tool that gathers opinions, behaviors, or information from a target group.
Difference Between Assessment and Survey
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
An assessment is used to measure the knowledge, skills, or performance of individuals or groups, typically within educational or professional settings. On the other hand, a survey gathers insights or opinions from a sample of people to understand trends, behaviors, or preferences.
Assessments are often more structured and aim to evaluate specific criteria or competencies, whereas surveys are designed to collect broader, more exploratory data, often using open-ended questions and multiple-choice formats.
Assessments usually provide a score or rating to indicate proficiency levels, while surveys generate aggregate results to identify patterns, insights, or correlations among the collected responses.
An assessment may be formative or summative, guiding learning or certifying completion, while a survey is often exploratory or descriptive, aiming to understand attitudes, preferences, or feedback on various topics.
Assessments are crucial in professional certification and educational testing, while surveys are more widely used in market research, social sciences, and customer feedback.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
Measure knowledge, skills, or performance
Gather data on opinions, trends, or behaviors
Structure
Structured, specific criteria or rubric
Flexible, multiple-choice or open-ended
Results
Score or rating-based
Aggregate data or patterns
Usage
Education, certification, professional tests
Market research, social sciences, customer feedback
Type
Formative or summative evaluation
Exploratory or descriptive
Compare with Definitions
Assessment
Evaluation of an individual's knowledge or skills.
The teacher used a written assessment to measure student progress.
Survey
A research tool to gather data from a sample.
The market survey helped identify customer preferences.
Assessment
Systematic evaluation of performance.
The assessment showed the team's strengths and areas for improvement.
Survey
An examination or inspection of an area or object.
A geological survey assessed the suitability of the land for mining.
Assessment
The process of estimating tax or fees.
The tax assessment was recalculated due to a recent renovation.
Survey
Statistical data collection for analysis.
The government conducted a national census survey.
Assessment
An analysis of value or significance.
The property assessment determined the market value of the house.
Survey
Broad view or comprehensive overview.
The historian presented a survey of medieval architecture.
Assessment
Feedback tool used in organizations.
The HR assessment revealed high employee satisfaction levels.
Survey
Detailed mapping or charting of land.
The boundary survey established the official property lines.
Assessment
The act of assessing; appraisal.
Survey
To look over the parts, features, or contents of; view broadly
Surveyed the neighborhood from a rooftop.
Surveyed the shelves in the pantry.
Assessment
An amount assessed, as for taxation.
Survey
To look at or examine carefully and appraise
Surveyed the storm damage. ].
Assessment
The act of assessing or an amount (of tax, levy or duty etc) assessed.
Survey
The act of surveying; a general view.
Assessment
An appraisal or evaluation.
Survey
A particular view; an examination, especially an official examination, of a particular group of items, in order to ascertain the condition, quantity, or quality.
A survey of the stores of a ship; a survey of roads and bridges; a survey of buildings.
Assessment
The act of assessing; the act of determining an amount to be paid; as, an assessment of damages, or of taxes; an assessment of the members of a club.
Survey
The operation of finding the contour, dimensions, position, or other particulars of any part of the Earth's surface.
Assessment
A valuation of property or profits of business, for the purpose of taxation; such valuation and an adjudging of the proper sum to be levied on the property; as, an assessment of property or an assessment on property.
Survey
A measured plan and description of any portion of country.
The owners of the adjoining plots had conflicting surveys.
Assessment
The specific sum levied or assessed.
Survey
An examination of the opinions of a group of people.
The local council conducted a survey of its residents to help it decide whether to go ahead with the roadside waste collection service.
Assessment
An apportionment of a subscription for stock into successive installments; also, one of these installments (in England termed a "call").
Survey
A questionnaire or similar instrument used for examining the opinions of a group of people.
I just filled out that survey on roadside waste pick-up.
Assessment
The classification of someone or something with respect to its worth
Survey
(historical) An auction at which a farm is let for a lease for lives.
Assessment
An amount determined as payable;
The assessment for repairs outraged the club's membership
Survey
(US) A district for the collection of customs under a particular officer.
Assessment
The market value set on assets
Survey
To inspect, or take a view of; to view with attention, as from a high place; to overlook
He stood on a hill, and surveyed the surrounding country.
Assessment
The act of judging or assessing a person or situation or event;
They criticized my judgment of the contestants
Survey
To view with a scrutinizing eye; to examine.
Survey
To examine with reference to condition, situation, value, etc.; to examine and ascertain the state of
It was his job to survey buildings in order to determine their value and risks.
Survey
To determine the form, extent, position, etc., of, as a tract of land, a coast, harbor, or the like, by means of linear and angular measurements, and the application of the principles of geometry and trigonometry
To survey land or a coast
Survey
To examine and ascertain, as the boundaries and royalties of a manor, the tenure of the tenants, and the rent and value of the same.
Survey
To investigate the opinions, experiences, etc., of people by asking them questions; to conduct a survey; to administer a questionnaire.
Survey
To inspect, or take a view of; to view with attention, as from a high place; to overlook; as, to stand on a hill, and survey the surrounding country.
Round he surveys and well might, where he stood,So high above.
Survey
To view with a scrutinizing eye; to examine.
With such altered looks, . . . All pale and speechless, he surveyed me round.
Survey
To examine with reference to condition, situation, value, etc.; to examine and ascertain the state of; as, to survey a building in order to determine its value and exposure to loss by fire.
Survey
To determine the form, extent, position, etc., of, as a tract of land, a coast, harbor, or the like, by means of linear and angular measurments, and the application of the principles of geometry and trigonometry; as, to survey land or a coast.
Survey
To examine and ascertain, as the boundaries and royalties of a manor, the tenure of the tenants, and the rent and value of the same.
Survey
The act of surveying; a general view, as from above.
Under his proud survey the city lies.
Survey
A particular view; an examination, especially an official examination, of all the parts or particulars of a thing, with a design to ascertain the condition, quantity, or quality; as, a survey of the stores of a ship; a survey of roads and bridges; a survey of buildings.
Survey
The operation of finding the contour, dimensions, position, or other particulars of, as any part of the earth's surface, whether land or water; also, a measured plan and description of any portion of country, or of a road or line through it.
Survey
A detailed critical inspection
Survey
Short descriptive summary (of events)
Survey
The act of looking or seeing or observing;
He tried to get a better view of it
His survey of the battlefield was limited
Survey
Consider in a comprehensive way;
He appraised the situation carefully before acting
Survey
Look over in a comprehensively, inspect;
He surveyed his new classmates
Survey
Keep under surveillance;
The police had been following him for weeks but they could not prove his involvement in the bombing
Survey
Hold a review (of troops)
Survey
Make a survey of; for statistical purposes
Survey
Plot a map of (land)
Common Curiosities
Do assessments require scoring?
Yes, assessments typically produce scores or ratings.
What types of assessments exist?
Formative (guiding learning) and summative (certifying completion), among others.
What types of surveys exist?
Market research, social science, customer satisfaction, and census surveys, to name a few.
Can surveys include qualitative data?
Yes, open-ended questions in surveys provide qualitative insights.
Can a survey be used as an assessment tool?
Sometimes, if the survey includes questions that measure specific skills or knowledge.
Are assessments used outside education?
Yes, assessments are common in professional certification and hiring.
Do surveys provide individual feedback?
Not typically; survey results are usually aggregated.
Are assessment and survey the same?
No, an assessment measures knowledge or skills, while a survey collects opinions or information.
Do surveys require statistical analysis?
Usually, surveys are analyzed to identify patterns or trends.
Can assessments be conducted online?
Yes, online assessments are widely used in education and certification.
Are surveys limited to customer research?
No, surveys are also used in social sciences, government studies, and more.
Are assessments always formal?
Not always; they can be informal, like self-assessments.
Can assessments guide future learning?
Yes, formative assessments are specifically designed for this purpose.
Do assessments provide individual feedback?
Usually, assessments offer personalized feedback on performance.
Are surveys always anonymous?
Not always, but many are designed to be anonymous for honest responses.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
