# Add a Custom Question to a Survey

If the Question Library does not contain a suitable question, you can create a custom question directly within a survey. Custom questions can include formatted text, images, and configurable response options.

{% hint style="info" %}
**TIP:** The PEARS Team recommends using existing library questions when possible to save time and ensure consistency.
{% endhint %}

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

#### Navigate to Surveys

From the PEARS homepage, hover over the **Plan** menu and click **Surveys**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Open the survey

Click the survey title to open it. If your survey is not active, click the **x** next to the Status filter to show all surveys.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Go to the Questions page

Click **Questions** in the progress panel to open the questions page.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Click Add Question

Click the **Add Question** button. The Question Library opens.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Click Custom Question

Below the search results in the Question Library, click the **Custom Question** link to open the custom question form.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Choose Question or Text

Select whether the item is a **Question** (collects responses) or **Text** (provides instructions or supplemental information without responses).
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Select a Question Type

Choose the type of question from the dropdown:

* **Text-based types** — Open-ended text responses.
* **Graphable types** — Multiple choice, rating scales, and other types that can be charted in reports.
* **Demographic types** — Automatically generate answer options and must use corresponding question types for proper PEARS calculations.

{% hint style="info" %}
**TIP:** Graphable question types allow PEARS to generate visual charts and summary statistics from the response data.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Enter the question text

Type the question text in the text box. Use the formatting tools (Bold, Italic, Underline) as needed.

* Optionally add an image by clicking the image icon. Include alt text so screen reader users can understand the content.
* For pre/post surveys, add alternate question text to change the tense (e.g., "Now that you have finished the program...").
* Optionally set a **Field Name** to control how the question displays in exports.
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Add response options (if applicable)

For multiple choice or rating scale questions, configure the response options:

* Enter the option text.
* Optionally assign a **numeric value** to each option for scoring purposes.
* Optionally upload an **image** for visual response options.
* Optionally mark the **correct answer** for knowledge-based questions.

Click **Add new option** to create additional response options.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Link to indicators (if applicable)

If your organization uses SNAP-Ed indicators, tag individual questions with the indicators they measure. Include exactly one "Unique Identifier" question type if using the "Responses by Matched ID" export feature.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Save the question

Click **Save Question** to add the custom question to your survey.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
**CAUTION:** Custom questions should be edited immediately after creation. Once a custom question has been added to other surveys, editing may become unavailable.
{% endhint %}


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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://support.pears.io/plan/surveys/add-a-custom-question.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.