Periodic surveys are designed for structured check-ins, whether quarterly, four-monthly, bi-yearly, or yearly. They give you a clear snapshot of how your organisation is doing at a specific point in time, and a great way to complement your pulse data with a broader perspective and track progress round by round.
How they differ from pulse surveys
Pulse surveys collect feedback continuously, every week or two, so you can spot changes early and react quickly. Periodic surveys collect feedback in defined rounds, and results are only calculated once a round closes. Each round gives you one complete, locked snapshot that's easy to act on and compare over time.
| Frequency | Quarterly, every four months, bi-yearly, or yearly. |
| Questions order | All selected questions are sent in every round, in a fixed order: standard questions first, then supplemental, then custom. |
| Results | Results are calculated once the round closes, then locked. Comparisons are round over round, not rolling. Read more: Read your periodic survey results |
| Result sharing | System administrators can choose to share results automatically when each round closes, or hold them and publish manually. Read more: Results sharing explained |
| Comments | Comments are held until the round closes and anonymised all at once, so you get a complete and accurate picture. Read more: Comments and anonymity in periodic surveys |
💡 Combining survey types
Periodic surveys are a powerful complement to Pulse surveys, not a replacement for them. Run a weekly Pulse survey to stay close to your team day to day, and use a Periodic survey once or twice a year for a deeper, organisation-wide view. The Temperature page has a tab for each, so switching between them is easy.
When to use periodic surveys
Periodic surveys are a good fit when you want to:
- Run a quarterly or annual engagement review for leadership.
- Track progress over time by comparing results round by round.
- Share results with confidence, knowing you can review them before they reach your teams.
Read more: The different survey types in Winningtemp