Comment cards

Comment cards

Comment cards allow people to write down and share their thoughts, ideas or experiences in their own words.

They are a simple, and effective way to anonymously capture people’s views. They can be used in a public setting or as part of another engagement method, such as focus groups, to gain deeper insight into experiences. Comment cards can either be displayed publicly or placed in a collection box for private responses, depending on the preferred level of visibility.

  • To Consult and/or Involve individuals or public groups. 
  • To understand experiences. 
  • To generate new ideas.
  • To generate alternatives.
  • To hear from underrepresented groups. 
  • To evaluate engagement activities.
  • Duration: There is no set duration for comment cards. Participants can fill out comment cards whenever they like during an event or over a set period. If you need feedback from a specific group or within a deadline, you can set a time limit for responses.
  • Number of participants: There are usually no limitations to the number of participants or responses provided.
  • Roles required: One facilitator is required to set up, monitor, analyse and report on comments.
  • Venue:
    - To gather public feedback, set up in a building entrance or hallway.
    - At events, use open spaces like the main hall or refreshment area where people can move around freely.
    - For online input, use a shared whiteboard tool like Miro so people can add their thoughts anytime.
  • Equipment: Display board, flipchart paper, pens, cards or sticky notes. Provides a comment box if you wish for comments to made privately and not visible for others.

How to do it

Step by step process.

  1. Define engagement purpose by setting clear objectives for gathering comments such as, generating ideas, understanding experiences, or identifying areas for improvement.
  2. Prepare key question(s) or prompts. Ensure these are easy-to-read and visible throughout the activity, whether in-person or on digital whiteboard, such as Miro.
  3. Set up the space, providing comment cards, sticky notes, pens, and writing surfaces such as tables or clipboards. Create dedicated areas for each question to keep responses organized.
  4. Invite people to comment by clearly explaining the purpose of obtaining feedback and what the comments will inform.
  5. Support accessibility by offering to help those who may need assistance writing their comments. Record their input accurately and respectfully in their own words.
  6. Consider providing further information, by sharing contact details or more information for those interested in next steps or ongoing involvement.
  7. Close the activity after the preferred amount of time. Reflect on whether the time was sufficient and note any immediate observations or learnings.
  8. Analyse the comments by reviewing responses to identify key themes, patterns, and insights. Consider what these reveal about the service or experiences.
  9. Plan next steps by deciding how to act on the insights. Share outcomes with relevant staff teams and any participants who wish to be involved, and consider how this feedback will inform future work.

Tips

  • If seeking public responses, ensure the venue is accessible for all participants . Check out our accessibility checklist.
  • Consider who you want to hear from and go to where they are. For example, you may wish to seek permission to set up in the maternity hospital foyer if you wish to hear from pregnant women and new parents.
  • Use plain language and make sure prompts are easy to understand. Avoid jargon and keep the amount of questions or prompts to a minimum – 1-3 questions/ prompts is an ideal number.
  • Consider hosting comment cards activity across multiple days or in different venues to capture diverse public views.

Advantages

  • Simple, easy and low cost way to quickly capture views.
  • Captures a wide range of perspectives.
  • People can share their views anonymously which can lead to more honest feedback.
  • Can be used in-person or online and tailored to different audiences, such as people who use the service, staff,
    or members of the public.
  • Feedback gathered can reveal patterns, highlight areas for desired improvement and surface new ideas.

Disadvantages

  • Feedback may only reflect the views of those who choose to participate.
  • Some responses may be vague or difficult to interpret when no follow up is available.
  • May not be suitable for complex topics that require detailed explanation and responses.

May be used alongside

• Displays and exhibitions
• Focus groups
• Public meetings

Last Updated: 31 March 2026
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