Who can add more respondents
You can add more respondents to any completed survey that meets these requirements:- Time limit: You must add respondents within 120 days of survey completion
- Maximum capacity: Surveys cannot exceed 500 total respondents (if you need more, reach out to our team)
- Panel audience: Works with any PickFu panel audience
How to add more respondents
To add responses to your completed survey:- Navigate to your survey results page
- Click the Increase sample size button near the top right of your results page
- Select the number of additional respondents you want from the dropdown menu
- Review the pricing based on your plan tier
- Click Complete Order to process the addition
How adding respondents affects ranked questions
If you’re running a ranked question, adding more respondents won’t bias your results. Here’s how it works:Instant runoff methodology
Ranked questions use an instant runoff voting (IRV) system to determine winners. When you add respondents:- No options are permanently eliminated: All your original options remain in play
- Complete recalculation: The system recalculates rankings using the combined responses from both your original and new respondents
- All options ranked: The instant runoff method evaluates all options across all rounds to find the true winner
- Fair representation: Adding more people doesn’t create bias—it gives you a fuller picture with more voices weighing in on all your choices
Understanding knockout analysis
Some users worry that options “knocked out” in early rounds won’t be fairly evaluated when new respondents are added. This isn’t how instant runoff works:- When you add respondents, all options are re-evaluated from scratch
- The new respondents rank all available options, not just the ones that “survived” previous rounds
- The system combines all responses (original + new) and runs the instant runoff process fresh
- Options that were eliminated in the smaller sample may perform differently with more data
What happens after you add respondents
After you complete your order:- New respondents will begin answering your survey
- You’re guaranteed to get different people—no respondent will answer the same survey twice
- Your results page will update in real-time as new responses come in
- For ranked questions, scores and rankings will recalculate automatically based on the combined data
- Most surveys complete within 24 hours, with many finishing the same day
Frequently asked questions
Can I add more respondents after my survey is completed?
Yes! As long as your survey is within 120 days of completion, you can add more respondents to any completed survey, including mini-polls.Will I get duplicate respondents if I add more people?
No. When you use the “Increase sample size” feature, you’re guaranteed to get different respondents than the ones who already answered your survey. The system ensures no respondent answers the same survey twice.Why did my results change dramatically after adding respondents?
This is completely normal, especially for ranked questions. A larger sample size often reveals patterns that weren’t visible in a smaller group. For ranked questions using instant runoff voting, the system recalculates all rankings from scratch with the full dataset, which can shift winners as more voices are added. This gives you a more accurate picture of true audience preferences.What’s the maximum number of respondents I can have in a single survey?
The maximum is 500 total respondents per survey. If you need more than 500 responses, reach out to our team to discuss your needs.How much does it cost to add more respondents?
Pricing is based on your plan tier and follows the same structure as your original survey. The dropdown menu shows exact pricing when you click “Increase sample size.” Learn more about how survey costs are calculated.Can I add respondents to a survey that’s still running?
No. The survey must be fully completed before you can add more respondents. If you want to increase your sample size while a survey is running, you’ll need to stop it early and start a new survey, or wait for it to complete.What if the “Increase sample size” button is disabled?
Check these common issues:- Survey still running: The survey must be fully completed first
- Maximum reached: Surveys cannot exceed 500 total respondents
- Time expired: The survey must be within 120 days of completion
How long will it take for my new respondents to complete the survey?
Most surveys complete within 24 hours, with many finishing the same day. You’ll start receiving responses within minutes of placing your order. The exact completion time depends on your sample size and audience targeting—more specific demographics take longer.Troubleshooting
I can’t find the “Increase sample size” button
The button appears near the top right of your survey results page, next to other action buttons like “Duplicate” and “Stop poll early.” If you don’t see it, make sure:- You have edit access to the survey
- The survey is fully completed (not still running)
- The survey is within 120 days of completion
- The survey hasn’t already reached the 500 respondent maximum
My extended survey stopped receiving responses
This can happen if your audience targeting is very specific. Consider:- Checking if you’ve reached your maximum respondent count
- Reviewing your audience targeting settings for overly narrow criteria
- Waiting 24 hours—some targeted surveys take longer to complete
- If the issue persists, review why surveys stop early
What’s next
After adding respondents and reviewing your updated results:- Filter your results by demographic traits to see how different segments responded
- Run a multi-question survey to get deeper insights from the same target audience
- Learn how scores are calculated in ranked and head-to-head questions
- Choose the right sample size for your research goals
- Learn more about PickFu respondents and panel quality
- Review the complete post-results workflow for more actions you can take
Related Articles