Choosing question types

Data Required - The data you need partly determines the questions types to use.

• Single Select Questions - If you need a question to produce a single value per question, then use any question designated as "Single Select". These questions allow the participant to select only one answer and produce one column of data per question.
• Multiple Select - For questions that allow the participant to "check all that apply", use any question designated as "Multiple Select". These questions allow the participant to select multiple answers per question and each answer represents its own variable and column of data.
  NOTE: Multiple-Select questions produce a different data structure from Single Select Questions; you cannot convert one into the other. To correct use of an inappropriate question type, delete the existing question (and associated data) and recreate it.
• Narrative, free response, or verbatim text - To allow the participant to enter text-based answers use any question labeled as "Free Response". These questions produce one column of data per question.

Individual Question or Group of Questions?

• For single unique questions choose among the Multiple Choice Questions to create one question at a time.
• For an instrument or questionnaire where each question uses the same set of answers, choose among the Matrix Questions to create a large group of questions together.

Layout options include:

• Horizontal
• Vertical
• Drop-down menus or a list

See Also - Question Types Detail