Question Properties

Question’s properties define the question, how it is presented to the interviewer or respondent, what values it may accept, etc. There are properties that are common for all question types while other properties only exist for specific question types.

Common question properties

Type - determines how the response is collected by the application (default is a text type). See question type.
Text - question text that the interviewer will read to the respondent. It may include text substitution.
Variable name - a unique identifier to be used in expressions to refer to the content (value of the answer to this question) and for export purposes. This identifier must follow the requirements for variable names.
Variable label - (optional) description of the data captured by the question and it will be associated to the variable name when exporting the data to a statistical software package. If the variable label is not entered, the system automatically exports the question text as its label. The variable label is not visible on the tablet except the variable labels for the identifying questions (questions at the cover page). Variable labels are mandatory for all questions at the cover page.
Instruction - (optional) clarification (to interviewer or respondent) how the question must be asked, etc.
Scope - defines who will be responsible for answering the question. The scopes are described in Question’s Scope.
Condition expression (enabling condition) - (optional) a logical expression that defines when this question must be asked depending on the answers to other questions of this questionnaire. If no expression is specified, the question will be asked.
Validation rule - (optional) a combination of a validation expression and a corresponding message for quality control of the input data by showing errors or warnings during the interview. (Note that audio- and picture-type questions can’t be validated).
Critical - is an attribute which defines whether the question is declared being a critical question, meaning the answer to the question is critical for interview submission. Whether it may or may not be submitted without such a critical answer depends on the questionnaire treatment mode decided by the user importing the questionnaire. See more details in Critical rules and questions.

Type-specific question properties

Description of properties specific to questions of particular types is provided in the description of the corresponding type. See question type.

Attention!

Note that not all the combinations of properties are possible. For example, specifying a particular question type may have an impact as to whether the question may be placed in the cover page section, used as a supervisor question, be preloaded, etc. Consult the table in Design limitations by question type for specific details.