Composing Numeric Questions

Numeric questions let respondents type a numeric answer from -99999999 to 999999999 into an answer field.  First we'll describe how to compose Numeric questions and then we'll provide a simple example for you to try.  

 

When you add a numeric question to your survey, the new question is inserted directly after any highlighted question in the List of Questions on the Write Questionnaire dialog.  If no question is highlighted, the new question is inserted at the end of the list.  

 

The Numeric Question dialog is used for formatting numeric questions.

 

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Numeric Question Layout

 

The numeric question has four main sections:

 

1.  Header 1

2.  Header 2

3.  Question

4.  Footer

 

The Question text line with its answer field is indented according to the Question Indent Width you specify in the Survey Settings | Page Format dialog.

 

The Numeric Question dialog has five buttons: Rename, Advanced..., Preview, OK and Cancel.

Format controls (Color, Size, Bold, Italic, Underline, and Justification) are available for formatting text using the paintbrush icon.

 

 

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Numeric Question Settings

 

From the Settings tab, you can control the range of values that can be entered by specifying a Minimum Value and a Maximum Value (Sawtooth Script may also be used).  You can also specify a legitimate value outside the Min and Max range to allow respondents to indicate they Don't Know/Refuse.  The value constraints are not enforced until the survey runs on the server.  

 

There are three main controls for the numeric question:

 

Require Response

 

Indicates whether respondents are required to enter a valid response before continuing the survey.

 

Allow Decimal Answers

 

Controls whether answers with a decimal point are accepted as valid answers.  You can specify whether commas or periods are to be used as decimal delimiters under the Survey Settings | Advanced dialog.  

 

Don't Know/Refused Value

 

Let's you specify a value outside the Minimum and Maximum allowed range, so respondents can indicate that they answer the question as Don't Know/Refused.  For example, you might ask respondents to indicate their age is "999" if they do not want to type their age.

 

Question Width (pixels)

 

Specifies how wide the entry box should appear to respondents.  A narrow box still allows respondents to type as many digits as they want.  However, not all the digits may be able to be shown at the same time if the box is too narrow.

 

Position Question <Left/Right> of Input Box

 

Determines whether the text in the Question text area appears at the left or right of the numeric entry box.

 

 

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Referencing Numeric Questions in Sawtooth Script

 

 

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Example: Composing a Numeric Question

 

1.  Click Add from the Write Questionnaire dialog.

 

2.  Select the Numeric question type.

 

3.  Type a valid name in the Question Name field, such as AGE, then click OK.  

 

4.  Click the Settings tab.  Specify a Minimum Value of 18 and a Maximum Value of 99 by clicking and editing those fields.  Specify a Don't Know/Refuse value of 999.

 

Click the Question Text tab.

 

5.   Header 1:

Text:        What is your age?

 

(Skip Header 2)

 

6.   Question:

Text:        Age:

 

7.   Footer:

Text:        (If you really don't want to tell us your age, just type 999)

 

8.  Click Preview:

 

Tip: Try adding optional HTML instructions in the Footer to bold the "999" and add a horizontal line beneath the question:

 

Footer Text:        (If you really don't want to tell us your age, just type <b>999</b>)<hr>

 

Notes: You can bold the "999" by using the toolbar accessible when you click the "pencil" edit icon .  Highlight the  "999" with the mouse and then click the bold button (looks like a bold B).  You can also add a horizontal line by editing the Footer text (again using the "pencil" edit icon) and clicking the "horizontal rule" button (looks like a dash "—")