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Free Belonging Survey

50+ Essential Belonging Survey Questions to Foster Inclusion

Discover how belonging survey questions can uncover the real feelings of connection and inclusion in your organization - measuring belonging boosts engagement, retention, and overall well-being. A belonging survey (also called an inclusion and belonging survey) explores how valued employees or students feel in their environment, so you can pinpoint strengths and areas for growth. Download our free template preloaded with sample questions, or head to our online form builder to craft a custom survey in minutes.

I feel a sense of belonging at this organization.
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
I am comfortable expressing my authentic self at this organization.
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
I feel valued and respected by my colleagues.
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
I have opportunities to connect and build meaningful relationships with my colleagues.
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly disagreeStrongly agree
Which of the following factors contributes most to your sense of belonging here?
Supportive leadership
Inclusive culture and practices
Opportunities for collaboration
Recognition of my contributions
Other
What obstacles or challenges prevent you from feeling fully included?
What suggestions do you have to improve inclusion and belonging within the organization?
How long have you been with the organization?
Less than 1 year
1-3 years
3-5 years
5-10 years
More than 10 years
Which age range best describes you?
Under 25
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65 or older
How would you describe your gender identity?
Female
Male
Non-binary
Prefer not to say
Other
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Top Secrets Every Team Needs to Run a Powerful Belonging Survey

Running a Belonging survey offers clear insight into how people feel connected from day one. It helps you spot inclusion gaps and fuel real change. A well-designed poll drives honest feedback and action.

You measure social acceptance and involvement with validated items. This Evaluation of a Questionnaire Measuring University Students' Sense of Belonging to and Involvement in a Biology Department study shows how the DeSBI picks up on valued competence. Adapting those questions in your own setup sharpens your insights.

Picture a remote project team where collaboration lagged. You send a quick "What makes you feel valued in our team?" and watch replies pour in. The raw comments about feedback loops became your blueprint for better check-ins. You could track sentiment monthly with your own Belonging and Inclusion Survey Template.

Aim for balance in closed and open queries. Consider "How accepted do you feel on a scale from 1 to 5?" and "What would help you feel more included?" These blend clarity with depth, giving you both data points and stories. You'll refine your approach with each round, turning survey results into real growth.

Use straightforward headings for each section and a mix of multiple-choice and open-text fields. That strategy fuels engagement and cuts survey fatigue. Before your next review, you'll already see hotspots that need attention - and you'll know exactly where to start.

Dive into sample belonging survey questions that reflect your audience. For employees, focus on "How supported do you feel by leadership?" and for students, try "What helps you connect with classmates?". These belonging survey questions for employees and belonging survey questions for students set the stage for real change. Check out our Sense of Belonging Survey guide for more examples and expert phrasing.

5 Must-Know Tips to Avoid Common Pitfalls in Your Belonging Survey

Launching a Belonging survey without clear goals is a fast track to confusion. Teams often ask vague questions that don't hit the mark. Defining what you want to know drives sharper insights and stronger buy-in.

Tip 1: Keep questions crystal clear. Swap "Do you feel valued?" for "How valued do you feel on a scale of 1 to 5?". That tweak cuts ambiguity. See our Student Belonging Survey for examples.

Tip 2: Watch for leading wording. Phrases like "How great is our culture?" push people to agree. Instead, try neutral phrasing in your next poll and let honest views shine. You'll avoid skewed data.

Tip 3: Pilot before you launch wide. Gathering a small group of volunteers can flag confusing items early. Imperial College London's Tools for Assessing Sense of Belonging demo shows why testing matters. A quick dry-run saves hours in analysis later.

Tip 4: Balance your scales. Use a mix of multiple-choice, Likert scales, and open-ends. Try "Which factors help you feel part of our community?" alongside "What would improve your sense of belonging?". Mixing formats boosts engagement. This structure lets you combine data from inclusion and belonging survey questions with rich stories.

Tip 5: Act on feedback quickly to build trust. After your first wave, share results in a short brief. According to School Belonging research, visible follow-through lifts overall well-being and commitment. Use these insights to plan your next steps and shape even better belonging survey questions for employees.

Belonging Survey Questions

These questions help gauge general feelings of acceptance and connectedness within any group or community. Use them to uncover insights that guide engagement strategies, drawing on benchmarks like the Sample Diversity and Inclusion Survey .

  1. How connected do you feel to this community?

    Understanding overall connectedness highlights areas where individuals may feel isolated and need more support.

  2. How often do you feel accepted by your peers?

    Frequency of acceptance indicates social cohesion and points to potential cliques or exclusion.

  3. To what extent do you feel valued by others here?

    Perceived value measures whether contributions are recognized, driving morale and engagement.

  4. How comfortable are you being your authentic self in this group?

    Comfort in authenticity reveals the psychological safety and trust level within the community.

  5. How supported do you feel when sharing your ideas?

    Perceived support for ideas reflects openness to feedback and innovation.

  6. How often do you feel included in group activities?

    Inclusion frequency sheds light on participation barriers and missed engagement opportunities.

  7. How frequently do you feel understood by others?

    Feeling understood is key to empathy and strong interpersonal connections.

  8. How much do you believe you truly belong here?

    A core belonging metric, this question identifies overall fit and potential turnover risk.

  9. How approachable are community leaders to you?

    Leader approachability impacts open communication and willingness to raise concerns.

  10. How likely are you to recommend this community to others?

    Willingness to recommend serves as a net promoter-style indicator of satisfaction and belonging.

Belonging Survey Questions for Employees

Designed for workplace environments, these items assess how supported and engaged employees feel. They align with best practices in the Team Satisfaction Survey and drive retention strategies.

  1. Do you feel your contributions at work are valued by management?

    Employee valuation by leaders correlates with job satisfaction and motivation.

  2. How often do you feel comfortable raising concerns or ideas?

    The ability to speak up indicates psychological safety and innovation culture.

  3. How connected do you feel to your immediate team?

    Team connectedness boosts collaboration and reduces workplace stress.

  4. Do you believe your workplace encourages diverse perspectives?

    Diversity encouragement reflects inclusion efforts and cultural competence.

  5. How supported do you feel during periods of high workload?

    Support perception during stress shapes burnout risk and wellbeing.

  6. How clear is your understanding of your role within the organization?

    Role clarity fosters belonging by aligning individual goals with company mission.

  7. How often do you receive feedback that helps you improve?

    Regular, constructive feedback is essential for growth and engagement.

  8. How fairly do you feel you are treated compared to colleagues?

    Perceived fairness impacts morale and trust in leadership.

  9. How inclusive is your team when making decisions?

    Decision-making inclusion strengthens ownership and team cohesion.

  10. How likely are you to recommend this organization as a great place to work?

    This advocacy question serves as an overall satisfaction and belonging metric.

Belonging Survey Questions for Students

These prompts explore how students experience acceptance and support on campus. Use them alongside insights from the Student Belonging Survey to improve retention and engagement.

  1. How welcomed do you feel by faculty and staff?

    Faculty-student rapport is critical for academic success and belonging.

  2. How connected are you to your classmates?

    Peer connections support collaboration and a sense of community.

  3. Do you feel safe expressing your opinions in class?

    Safe expression indicates open dialogue and critical thinking environments.

  4. How often do you participate in student clubs or activities?

    Involvement frequency highlights engagement and social integration.

  5. How supported do you feel by the academic advising team?

    Advisor support influences academic planning and belonging.

  6. To what extent do you feel your background is respected here?

    Cultural respect ties directly to inclusion and student satisfaction.

  7. How comfortable are you asking for help when needed?

    Help-seeking comfort reflects available resources and openness.

  8. How often do you feel you can be yourself on campus?

    Authenticity frequency measures campus climate for diversity.

  9. How clearly do you see your future role within this institution?

    Clarity on personal goals boosts motivation and campus belonging.

  10. How likely are you to recommend this school to prospective students?

    Recommendation likelihood serves as an overall endorsement of student experience.

Sense of Belonging Survey Questions

Focused on the psychological aspects of belonging, these items measure identity, acceptance, and value perception. They complement the Sense of Belonging Survey framework to guide culture-building efforts.

  1. How strongly do you identify with this group's values?

    Value alignment is central to feeling part of a community.

  2. How accepted do you feel for who you are?

    Acceptance assessment reveals inclusivity gaps and biases.

  3. To what extent do you feel your presence matters here?

    Feeling that you matter drives engagement and loyalty.

  4. How comfortable are you sharing personal experiences?

    Personal sharing reflects trust and support within the group.

  5. How safe do you feel voicing a differing opinion?

    Perceived safety for dissent fuels healthy debate and growth.

  6. How often do you feel a sense of pride being part of this group?

    Group pride indicates strong belonging and advocacy.

  7. Do you feel that your background enriches this group?

    Recognizing diverse backgrounds fosters mutual respect.

  8. How often do you experience empathy from others here?

    Empathy frequency signals emotional intelligence and support.

  9. How clear is your understanding of this group's purpose?

    Purpose clarity aligns individuals and strengthens belonging.

  10. How likely are you to stay involved long-term?

    Long-term involvement intention predicts retention and satisfaction.

Inclusion and Belonging Survey Questions

These questions balance both inclusion and belonging to create equitable environments. They align with insights from the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Survey to inform strategy.

  1. How fairly are opportunities distributed among all members?

    Fair opportunity distribution is foundational for equity.

  2. How often do you witness inclusive behaviors here?

    Observation frequency indicates cultural norms and role modeling.

  3. Do you feel policies support everyone's success?

    Policy support measures organizational commitment to equity.

  4. How confident are you in reporting bias or discrimination?

    Reporting confidence reflects trust in systems and leadership.

  5. How well does leadership prioritize inclusion?

    Leadership prioritization drives resource allocation and culture.

  6. How often do you collaborate with people from different backgrounds?

    Diverse collaboration fosters innovation and mutual respect.

  7. To what extent do you feel included in decision making?

    Inclusion in decisions strengthens commitment and belonging.

  8. How comfortable are you navigating cultural differences here?

    Cultural comfort reflects training effectiveness and awareness.

  9. How supported do you feel when raising equity concerns?

    Equity support signals openness to continuous improvement.

  10. How likely are you to recommend this environment to others seeking inclusion?

    Recommendation likelihood highlights overall inclusivity success.

College Student Sense of Belonging Survey Questions

Targeted at undergraduates, these prompts assess academic, social, and institutional belonging. They build on best practices from the Student Sense of Belonging Survey to boost retention.

  1. How supported do you feel by academic advisors?

    Advisor support is crucial for academic planning and belonging.

  2. How connected are you to campus social events?

    Event participation reveals social engagement and inclusion.

  3. Do you feel your contributions in class are recognized?

    Recognition in class fosters academic confidence and belonging.

  4. How comfortable are you seeking support from faculty?

    Faculty approachability impacts help-seeking behavior.

  5. How frequently do you collaborate with peers on coursework?

    Peer collaboration enhances learning and community building.

  6. How clear is your understanding of campus resources?

    Resource clarity supports student success and retention.

  7. To what extent do you feel your background is valued here?

    Valuing backgrounds encourages diversity of thought and belonging.

  8. How often do you feel included in student leadership initiatives?

    Leadership inclusion builds agency and institutional commitment.

  9. How safe do you feel expressing concerns about campus life?

    Perceived safety influences student wellbeing and trust.

  10. How likely are you to remain enrolled through graduation?

    Retention intention measures overall belonging and satisfaction.

FAQ

What are the key questions to include in a belonging survey for employees?

To design an effective employee belonging survey template, include demographic questions (department, tenure), Likert-scale perception questions (inclusion, support, culture), open-ended items on team relationships, leadership feedback, and suggestions for improvement. These example questions help capture engagement, psychological safety, and overall sense of belonging.

How can I measure employees' sense of belonging within the organization?

You can measure employees' sense of belonging using a structured employee belonging survey template with Likert-scale ratings on inclusion, acceptance, and team connection. Include frequency scales and open-ended prompts for personal insights. Analyze scores by department and demographics to benchmark outcomes, identify trends, and tailor action plans.

Why is it important to assess belonging in the workplace?

Assessing belonging in the workplace is vital for driving engagement, productivity, and retention. A free survey template with targeted inclusion questions uncovers cultural gaps, boosts morale, and informs leadership decisions. Regular belonging surveys create data-driven insights, promote psychological safety, and demonstrate commitment to an inclusive company culture.

What are effective belonging survey questions for students?

Effective belonging survey questions for students in a student survey template include Likert-scale items on classroom inclusion, peer support, and sense of safety. Add open-ended prompts like "Describe a time you felt valued." These example questions help educators measure student engagement, foster belonging, and inform inclusive teaching strategies.

How do I interpret the results of a belonging and inclusion survey?

To interpret results from a belonging and inclusion survey template, aggregate Likert-scale scores, benchmark against industry norms, and segment responses by team or demographic. Highlight strong and weak areas, review open-ended feedback for themes, and prioritize action items. This structured analysis turns example questions into strategic inclusion initiatives.

What strategies can improve a sense of belonging among employees?

Improve employee belonging using strategies like peer mentoring, inclusive leadership training, and team-building activities. Leverage insights from your belonging survey template to address gaps, launch recognition programs, and establish employee resource groups. Regular check-ins with a free survey ensure ongoing feedback and reinforce an inclusive workplace culture.

How often should organizations conduct belonging surveys?

Organizations should conduct belonging surveys quarterly or biannually using a reliable survey template. Frequent check-ins with free survey tools help track trends, measure progress on inclusion goals, and address emerging issues early. Tailor example questions to each cycle for actionable insights and sustained employee engagement.

What are common challenges in creating a sense of belonging at work?

Common challenges in fostering workplace belonging include remote work barriers, unconscious bias, lack of inclusive leadership, and cultural misalignment. A belonging survey template can reveal these issues through example questions on communication, collaboration, and recognition. Addressing survey feedback with targeted training and policies helps overcome these obstacles.

How does a sense of belonging impact employee engagement and retention?

A strong sense of belonging drives higher employee engagement, productivity, and retention. Data from your employee belonging survey template links inclusion scores to performance metrics, revealing areas to strengthen morale and reduce turnover. Use insights from free survey results to shape policies and reinforce a supportive organizational culture.

What are examples of inclusion and belonging survey questions?

Examples of inclusion and belonging survey questions in an inclusion survey template include: "I feel respected by my team," "My opinions matter," and "I can be myself at work." Add open-ended items like "What helps you feel included?" These example questions guide insightful feedback and actionable plans.