Surveys allow people to fill out a short (or long) questionnaire to give feedback about something. Putting together a survey begins with identifying goals and objectives, and assembling a list of questions. Questions can focus on likes and dislikes as well as specific information those you might be looking for in your research. People taking the survey can answer the questions on a numbered scale. Some surveys also include questions for people to give a short answer. Surveys offer immediate feedback and you can score them quickly and use them for later research; you can even use them to compare the results with other groups.
Interviews act as a great tool in the assessment process because they allow you to carry out an assessment in a face-to-face manner. The process begins much like a survey in assembling a list of questions you can ask; however, once questioning begins, you can deviate from the list and begin to ask follow-up questions if you don't get the information you want or press harder by asking a person what she means or to explain herself further. Interviewing gives you a deeper understanding of the process and you can often gather better information. The interview process also allows you to assess body language, vocal tone and hesitation in giving an answer.
Depending on the type of assessment, journals can provide greater insight and detail into something and can provide valuable information into a particular process. By keeping a daily (or weekly) journal, people can record their feelings, likes and dislikes, as well as ideas and reflections about the subject. You might choose to give people prompts, forcing those keeping the journal to address certain subjects. You may also choose to have people doing the assessment to keep an online journal for all to read; it gives others going through the same process a chance to read about what other people are thinking and feeling.
Portfolios allow people to see a process from beginning to end; it usually focuses on creative fields such as writing or artwork. People assembling a portfolio start with the first things they learned and then gradually build to the finished product. A portfolio allows you to see the person putting the portfolio together using various techniques and tools, as well as how they learn from previous mistakes and adapt to changes. For a prospective employer, portfolios show how a person grew over a period, and can often point to their potential.