diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cd20012..f517fcb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -70,7 +70,8 @@ Creates a survey owned by `owner`. `title`, `description` are strings, `allow_na
 * description: string, optional, defaults to "". This is displayed on the front page of the survey
 * allow_names: boolean, optional, default true. If true, respondents can choose whether to answer with their name recorded. If false, respondents cannot answer with their name recorded.
 * allow_anonymous: boolean, optional, default true. If true, respondents can choose whether to answer anonymously. If false, respondents cannot answer anonymously.
-* allow_changes: boolean, optional, default false. If true, the respondent may change his answers anytime before the deadline. If false, the answers are fixed once answered.
+* allow_changes: boolean, optional, default true. If true, the survey may be altered. If false, the survey and its questions are fixed.
+* allow_reconsider : boolean, optional, default false. If true, the respondent may change his answers anytime before the deadline. If false, the answers are fixed once answered.
 * timestamp_start: positive integer, optional, default nil. Timestamp beyond which the survey can be answered.
 * timestamp_end: positive integer, optional, default nil. Timestamp beyond which the survey can no longer be answered.
 
diff --git a/api.lua b/api.lua
index f186e48..912d7ee 100644
--- a/api.lua
+++ b/api.lua
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ local function create_survey(owner, title, description, allow_names, allow_anony
     if (type(allow_anonymous) ~= "boolean") then
         return false, yl_survey.t("allow_anonymous must be boolean")
     end
-    if (allow_changes == nil) then allow_changes = false end -- set default
+    if (allow_changes == nil) then allow_changes = true end -- set default
     if (type(allow_changes) ~= "boolean") then
         return false, yl_survey.t("allow_changes must be boolean")
     end