Question types

Recently used

Recently used question types

The new question type dialog provides a "recently used" view, which contains up to ten last used question types per user. Since most surveys are using only a small subset of our question types, this speeds up the creation of a survey, by showing all recently used question types from different categories in a single view.

Text and multimedia

Text and image

The “Text and image” question type (998) allows you to freely enter text, images and, if necessary, HTML code. It is primarily used for inserting and layouting information texts. For the creation of questions, on the other hand, the “Text and image” question type is not suitable, as no variables are available.

Entry Dialog

You can use the TinyMCE editor for layouting texts. From HTML mails and various panel functionalities, you may already be familiar with the TinyMCE editor.

• TinyMCE is a modern WYSIWYG editor. WYSIWYG = what you see is what you get.

• If necessary, Edit HTML source provides direct access to the source code.

• If you do not want to use the TinyMCE editor, you can easily deactivate the feature in the menu Options → Personal preferences on the tab Behavior of questionnaire editor.

Insert code automatically

You can have HTML code inserted automatically for frequently used functions. To do so, select the desired function via the Insert code automatically drop-down list.

Integrating multimedia elements

The following features are available for the integration of multimedia elements:

Traditional formatting options

If you do not use the TinyMCE editor, the various formatting icons are located just above the input field.

Video Player

A dedicated video player is available! When creating new questions, the video player can be found in the category “Text and multimedia”.

• The videos are usually output with HTML5, Flash is used as fallback.

• The video player supports the video formats mp4, m4v, mov combined with the encoding process H.264 codec. If a selected file does not conform with the H.264 codec a warning is displayed.

• The maximum file size corresponds to the installation-specific maximum permitted size of files in the media library, which is currently 512 MB. However, for better performance the best practice for larger videos (e.g., file size of 500 MB) is the use of streaming services. The corresponding embed code can be embedded via question type 911.

• A dedicated variable allows to track if the participants have seen the video file completely, partially or not at all. The variable is created automatically. Per default, it is labelled “Video has finished playing”. The following missings are used:

  • -77 = not seen

  • -66 = no Javascript, cannot tell if played

  • -99 = seen, not played

  • 1 = seen and completely played

  • 0 = seen and partially played but not finished or played in repeat mode

• The “Responsive Layout” video player is realized based on question type 911 with a comparable functional scope.

Entry Dialog

The entry dialog is closely related to the entry dialog of question type 911.

• The “Answers” section is generated automatically. Please do not change anything in this section.

• The features of the “Detail configuration” section are explained in the Table below.

About the video player

The video player offered by EFS has a three-stage concept. First, it always tries to provide a native HTML5 player. This player requires videos in certain container formats (e.g. MP4). See here: https://www.w3schools.com/html/html5_video.asp

These container formats contain video tracks or sound tracks in certain formats (e.g. AVC for video and AAC for audio).

These formats should have been created with default settings (the so-called profile in a certain level). This is important if you want to have the highest possible support on different devices (e.g. Baseline@3.1). For example, there are profiles that work in desktop browsers but not on mobile devices, especially older ones, but still widely used. See here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Video_Coding#Profiles

If the format does not support HTML5, EFS tries to deliver a proprietary Flash player to play the video. Please note that support for all major browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Edge) has been discontinued and you may have to activate Flash manually (if at all possible). Adobe will also discontinue support for Flash 2020.

As a last option EFS provides the format for download. This is exactly what happens here, for example in Chrome. Firefox for example still asks if Fash should be activated.

In summary, you can say that videos in container format MOV should not be used if you want to cover as many browsers and devices as possible. Recommended here is the container format MP4 with AVC/AAC (Video/Audio) in Baseline@3.1 (Profil/Level).

Providing videos for mobile devices

You can provide these videos in different resolutions/qualities depending on which mobile device they will be used (e.g. on a 4K device that can process and display very high resolutions/quality settings or on a smartphone that can process/display rather lower resolutions/quality settings and is also limited by the bandwidth of mobile networks. The higher the resolution/quality of the video, the more data has to be transferred).

Audio Player

A dedicated audio player is available. When creating new questions, the audio player can be found in the category “Text and multimedia”.

• The audio player supports mp3 with mp3 extension.

• The maximum file size corresponds to the installation-specific maxium permitted size of files in the media library.

• A dedicated variable allows to track if the audio file has been played completely, partically or not at all. The variable is created automatically. Per default, it is labelled “Audio has finished playing”. The following missings are used:

  • 77 = not seen

  • 66 = no JavaScript, cannot tell if played

  • 99 = seen, not played

  • 1 = seen and completely played

  • 0 = seen and partially played but not finished or played in repeat mode

• The “Responsive Layout” audio player is realized based on question type 911 with a comparable functional scope

• During uploads, all files are immediately scanned for malware, before being moved to their final destination within the EFS platform. If a malware is found, the file is immediately removed from the temporary storage and the user is notified that the upload was not successful. This approach ensures that at no point malware can be distributed through EFS.

Entry Dialog

The entry dialog is closely related to the entry dialog of question type 911.

• The “Answers” section is generated automatically. Please do not change anything in this section.

• The features of the “Detail configuration” section are explained in the Table below.

Single response

Single response questions are used if only one of the possible answer can apply to the specific participant. Questions age, gender or income, for example, are usually single response questions. One single variable is sufficient to store the answer. A code is allocated to each answer option, and the code of the selected option will be stored in the variable.

Single response list (Vertical)

The vertical single response list is one of the most commonly used question types. This question type has the following content elements:

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Answer options 1-n

• Optional: Answer option with text entry field

• Optional: Inside titles 1-m

• Optional: Columns 1-o

Single Response List (Horizontal)

The Single response question type is optimized for measuring the Net Promoter Score (NPS).

• The answer options are in principle always displayed side-by-side (Desktop, Tablet, Widescreen). If you want the wrapping to occur at any position between the answer options, please stay with the familiar question types 112 and 113.

• On small displays (Mobile) the question type switches completely to a vertical display or to a drop-down list.

• Technically, the new question type is based on the familiar single response list (111).

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Answer options 1-n

Detail configuration

• Text alignment:

  • The answer options’ texts can be shown above or to the right of the radio button.

  • On Smartphone and Tablet, long texts or images are always displayed to the right hand of the radio button, without consideration of the text alignment settings.

• Display on mobile devices: On mobile devices the answer options can be displayed either as list or as drop-down list. The latter requires active JavaScript.

• Initial value: Text for the first option of the drop-down list. Default: “Please select”.

  • This text is only used if “drop-down list” has been set for display on mobile devices.

  • This option is automatically treated as a missing.

• Alternating rows: Display every second answer option with a different background color.

Alternative Layouts for Single Response Lists

The main difference between question types 112 / 113 and the question types described above is in their layout:

• Question type 112 Single response list (wrapping): Radio buttons and answer options are arranged horizontally in one line. If this question type is used in
  “Responsive Layout” context, the wrapping may occur at any position between the answer options dependent on screen width.

• Question type 113 Single response list (scale above, wrapping): The radio buttons are arranged horizontally, with the respective answer options above them. If this question type is used in “Responsive Layout” context, the wrapping may occur at any position between the answer options dependent on screen width.

Single response list with icons

The question type “Single response list with icons” allows to easily visualize answer options, by integrating e.g. smileys, thumbs for Yes/ No questions, dice, numbers, gender icons or other visual elements.

• When creating new questions in projects with “Responsive Layout”, you can find this question type in the “Single response” category.

• Depending on the screen width of the device used, the options will be displayed horizontally or vertically. Optionally vertical alignment can be enforced for all devices.

• When creating a new question, smileys are integrated automatically.

• You can resort to other predefined images in the Tivian library or upload your own images to the media library.

• Technically, the question type is based on the familiar single response list (111).

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Icons and texts for the answer options 1-n

Detail configuration

• Show answer texts: Per default, the texts of the answer options are used as Alt text. Optionally they can be displayed below the icons.

• Force vertical alignment: Per default, the display of the options depends on the screen width of the device used: For wide screens horizontal, for small screens vertical. Optionally vertical alignment can be enforced for all devices.

• Horizontal alignment: center, left, right.

• Minimum width of the images.

  • Minimum width for display of the images.

  • If the images don’t fit in line while respecting the minimum width, the view switches to vertical display.

  • Valid range: 50-1000 pixel. Default: 50 pixel.

• Maximum width of the images. Default: 100 pixel.

Drop-down list

With drop-down lists, issues will be examined, for which there is only one possible correct answer.

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Answer options 1-n

• Optional: Answer option with text entry field

It is not possible to create inside titles or several columns.

Entry dialog and question options

The entry dialog for configuring a drop-down list is on the whole identical with the entry dialog for question type 111. However the type “Inside title” and the column “New column” are missing.

The question type-specific question options are also largely identical, only “Dynamic column text wrap” and “Wrap item text” are missing. Characteristic for question type 131 and the following question type 132 is that the select box can be placed within, in front of or behind a text. To do so simply enter the desired text in the “Text around the select box” field and place the “%s” wildcard where you wish to insert the box into the text.

Open response list

Open response lists are used for questions to which there is only one possible correct answer. You have the option of setting any number of answer categories to be displayed.

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Answer options 1-n

Entry dialog and question options

The entry dialog for configuring a open response list is on the whole identical with the entry dialog for the question type 111. However, it is not possible to change the type of answer option: Only normal answer options are possible. Moreover, the column “new column” is not there.

The question type-specific question options are also largely identical, only “Dynamic column text wrap” and “Wrap item text” are missing. As with question type 131, you can also place the select box within, in front of or behind the text.

Hotspot

The hotspot question type is very similar to the hotspot question type for matrix questions. The hotspot question type enables you to place answer options onto particular areas of a selected picture. Before uploading your picture, note that you should start by defining necessary dimensions and scales.

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Scale options 1-n

• Answer options 1-n

Detail Configuration

• Exclusive mode for areas: Only one area can be rated. If other areas have been previously rated, they will be reset.

• Show answer texts as tooltip: The respective answer text will be displayed as a tool tip when hovering over it.

• Initial state for areas: States how areas are displayed initially and whether a button to display unrated areas should be included.

• Color for unselected areas: States the color for areas which have not yet been rated.

• Label of button for displaying areas: Defines the button for displaying areas.

• Text of the default value in the selected box: Defines the text of the default value in the selected box.

• Label of button for closing the dialog: Defines the button which closes the dialog.

• Image: Upload images, or change and delete previously uploaded images.

Editing-tools for shapes

Shortcut keys

Helpful shortcut keys will make the editing process easier.

Detail configuration of the fallback image

In the case that participants do not have JavaScript installed a fallback image will be displayed instead. Go to the section Detail configuration fallback image for further configurations.

Dynamic answer option

This Single response question type is called Dynamic answer option. This question type will allow you to present a respondent with a single-response list that dynamically update based on responses given by previous respondents. This question type replies in the presence of a free text answer as part of the singleresponse list. For example, you may have a single-response question that asks a person their favorite brand of chocolate, with available answers: Cadbury, Lindt, Galaxy, Toblerone and Other. Against the other you have included a free text field (Answer option + text).

he new Dynamic answer option type can be configured so that if a specified number of respondents enter Hersheys as their favorite chocolate, this option is dynamically added to the list of possible responses for the next respondent to answer the survey. The following settings control this new question type:

Treshold – this setting determines the number of respondents who need to have provided this new answer before it is added into the list of available answers. For example, we might decide that 10 people need to choose Hersheys before it is added to the list.

Max amount of answer options – this setting limits the number of new options that can be dynamically added to the single-response list.

Respect case sensitivity - this setting determines whether the case-sensitivity of a word produces a new answer option in each case.

Alternating rows – this setting determines whether the newly added options are displayed in the order they were dynamically added to the list, or in a more randomized order.

Multiple response list

Questions which allow more than one answer are called questions with multiple response lists. In this case, one variable is created for each selection. To store the answer, a dedicated variable is created for each answer option. Depending on the answer, this variable can have two possible states: 0 = not quoted, 1 = quoted.

Multiple response list (Vertical)

This question type can be used to ask questions to which there are several possible correct answers. The following is an example from a study about the reading habits of subscribers to a specific magazine.

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Answer options 1-n

• Optional: Answer option with text entry field

• Optional: Text entry field without checkbox

• Optional: Inside titles 1-m 

• Optional: Columns 1-o

Multiple response list (Horizontal)

The main difference between question types 122 and question type 121, which was described in the preceding chapter, is in their layout: Answer options and related checkboxes are arranged horizontally in one line.

Multiple response list with images

The new multiple response list with images replaces the familiar question types 521 and 522 in “Responsive layout” questionnaires.

• When creating new questions in projects with “Responsive Layout”, you can find this question type in the “Multiple response” category.

• Depending on the screen width of the device used, the options will be displayed horizontally or vertically. Optionally vertical alignment can be enforced for all devices.

• You can resort to predefined images in the Tivian library or upload your own images to the media library.

• Technically, the question type is based on the familiar multiple response list (121).

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Images and texts for the answer options 1-n

Entry Dialog

The entry dialog is closely related to the familiar entry dialog of question type 121. However several special features were not implemented because they are not suitable for an image question type or for “Responsive layout” questionnaires (e.g. answer option with text field, dynamic column break, wrap item text).

To insert images, simply click on the default icons. Then, you can select the desired files from the media library.

Detail Configuration

• Show answer texts: Per default, the texts of the answer options are used as Alt text. Optionally they can be displayed below the icons.

• Force vertical alignment: Per default, the display of the options depends on the screen width of the device used: For wide screens horizontal, for small screens vertical. Optionally vertical alignment can be enforced for all devices.

• Horizontal alignment: center, left, right.

• Minimum width of the images.

  • Minimum width for display of the images.

  • If the images don’t fit in line while respecting the minimum width, the view switches to vertical display.

  • Valid range: 50-1000 pixel. Default: 100 pixel.

• Maximum width of the images. Default: 200 pixel.

Improving the Answer Quality

To improve the answer quality of multiple reponse questions, in particular, EFS provides two dedicated features:

• In many scenarios, you may wish to limit the number of checked answer options. In a question with ten answer options, for example, you may want the participants to select at most three or between three and five answer options. The respective checks can be realized with combination checks.

• Participants will frequently check an option “No answer” or “None“, but activate one or several other answers as well. This can easily be prevented by deploying the so-called “exclusive checkbox”.

Fields for text input

Text Field (Single Row)

This question type can be used to ask questions to which the answer is to be entered into an open-ended text field. The following is an example from a master data query, in which the year of birth is to be entered.

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Text around the entry field

• Text field width:

  • “Responsive layout”: Specified in em or %. The maximum value is 1000em or 100%. If no value is entered, the default value will be used. The default text field width is defined in the menu Layout → Standard editor → Form elements.

  • Classic system layout: Default: 255 characters.

• Maximum length of the entry. Default in “Responsive layout” projects: 255 characters. A maximum of 255 characters is permitted.

Positioning the entry field between surrounding text

You can place the entry field within, before or after a text. To do so, enter the desired text into the “Text around the entry field” field, and place the “%s” wildcard at the position in the text where the entry field is to be inserted.

Text area

This question type can be used to ask questions to which the answer is to be entered into a multiple row text field. The following is an example from a cover test. Respondents are being asked to comment on a magazine cover.

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Text around the entry field

• Number of columns (width of the text area)

• Number of rows (height of the text area

Multi Text Field (Vertical / Horizontal)

Vertical and horizontal multi text fields can be used to ask questions to which the answer is to be entered into an open-ended text field area. The following is an example of a vertical multi text field.

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• 143: Texts for the entry fields 1-n

  • In projects with classic system layout, you can position the entry fields within, before or after the texts. Please mind: If the space between the left part of the text and the entry field is too big, use the “Width of the left column with the question texts (in pixels)” field to minimize it.

• 144: Texts around the entry fields 1-n. You can position the entry fields within, before or after the texts.

• Text field width:

  • “Responsive layout”: Specified in %. The maximum value is 100%.

  • Classic system layout: Default: 255 characters.

• Maximum length of the entry. Default in “Responsive layout” projects: 255 characters.
  A maximum of 255 characters is permitted.

• The maximum length of entries is 255 characters.

Constant sum

The Constant sum question type is used when asking participants to distribute a fixed amount of points, percentages or money among various answer options. The values can be entered into text fields, the sum is automatically calculated and displayed. If necessary, the complete distribution of the predefined amount can be enforced.

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Labels of the text fields

• Automatically calculated sum

Entry dialog

The entry dialog is closely related to the entry dialog of question type 143. However several functions were not implemented because they are not suitable for a question type with such a clear-cut purpose.

The section “Detail configuration” is almost identical with the analog section of the “Linked slider”. It contains the following features:

• Maximum value: The desired maximum value.

• Force maximum value: The sum of all values has to equal the maximum value.

• Error message if maximum value is not reached: Default: “Please total the choices to %s.”

• Sum caption: Caption in the sum row. Default: “Total.”

• Unit: The label for the displayed unit of the entered values.

• Position of the unit: The chosen unit can be positioned before or after the input field.

• Alternating rows: Every second row can be shown in a different color.

Date picker

The date picker allows to create appealing calendar questions without customization. Technically, the new question type is based on the vertical multi text field (143). On desktop PCs, a calendar is displayed. On mobile devices, the date picker is displayed with native elements (see below). If JavaScript is not activated on the participant’s device, a simple text field is used as fallback.

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Calendar icon

Entry dialog

The entry dialog is closely related to the entry dialog of question type 143. However many functions were not implemented because they are not suitable for a question type with such a clear-cut purpose.

Detail configuration

• Beginning date: Optionally, an earliest possible beginning date can be specified.

• End date: Optionally, a latest possible end date can be specified.

• Calendar icon: To use another icon, simply click on the default icons Then, you can select the desired file from the media library.

Question-specific messages for invalid entries can be modified in the menu Project properties → Survey messages.

Autocomplete

This type of question allows you to provide potential answer options, from which up to ten choices are presented as suggestions based on the autocompletion of what is being typed into the input line by the user. The suggestions are shown in the list of a drop-down box in alphabetical order. They can also be called up by clicking on the drop down arrow.

To use this type of questions, upload a CSV file with the answer options to the media library. You can download an example file from the questionnaire editor.

People selection

Sometimes you want to give survey respondents a quick and easy way of selecting a person from a list. For instance, if you want employees to choose someone from their organization to give recognition to, like a high-five or a shout out. In EFS this has always possible, but required some complex setup and integration. Now, we’ve made it really simple, with a brand-new question type!

This gives survey respondents direct accurate access to other people in the Panel during a survey. Respondents can search for people by first name, last name and e-mail address.

In the Options section of this question type, you configure the following settings: Select a panel group to be used as the source group (the panelists that are displayed in the questionnaire view are taken from this group). Enter placeholder text and a value in relation to the list size, i.e. how many panelists are to be displayed via the drop-down list. The maximum value is 100.

Please note that for panelists to appear in the search results, the options "Show profile to others", "First name", "Last name" and “E-mail address” must be ticked in the panelist administration.

Matrix questions

Many scenarios require detailed assessments of issues. The space-saving format of socalled matrix questions has proved suitable for these cases.

Standard Matrix

Standard Matrix is the classic matrix question.

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Scale options 1-m

• Dimensions 1-n

• Optional: Inside titles 1-o

• Optional: Dimension with text entry field

Question Options

As with most other question types, normal matrix questions also provide the following question options: “Mark question as protected”, hiding condition at question level, vertical and horizontal flip, mandatory (DAC), “Number of items visible” and “Alternate colors”. In the section “answer options”, the following options are available: “Answer option + text”, “inside title”, type check, grouping, randomization, dac at item level, “Always visible” and hiding condition at item level.

In addition, the following question type-specific question options may be used when designing the matrix:

• Repeat scale headers every x rows: In the case of a matrix question with numerous dimensions, the scale can be repeatedly displayed after x rows so that the respondent can still see the scale apportionment while scrolling, for example.

• Only for projects with “Responsive layout”: Display on mobile devices: You can optionally use a drop-down list instead of the usual list of radio buttons.

• Only in projects with classic system layout: Width of the left column with the question texts (in pixels): This feature allows you to specify the width of the left column.

Layout

With question type 311, you have the option of modifying the area between the scale and the answer block by inserting an additional template. This allows you to change the distance, for example.

Stars Matrix

The question type Stars Matrix allows to easily visualize answer options, by integrating e.g. smileys, thumbs for Yes/No questions, dice, numbers, gender icons or other visual elements.

• When creating new questions in projects with “Responsive Layout”, you can find this new question type in the “Image selection” category. The functional scope is similar to the familiar single response list (111).

• Depending on the screen width of the device used, the star rating scale will be displayed horizontally or vertically. Optionally vertical alignment can be enforced for all devices.

• When creating a new question, smileys are integrated automatically.

• The rating direction is from left to right.

• You can resort to other predefined images in the Tivian library (see next chapter) or upload your own images to the media library.

• Technically, the new question type is based on the familiar standard matrix (311).

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Scale options 1-m

• Dimensions 1-n

Entry Dialog

The entry dialog is closely related to the familiar entry dialog of question type 111. However several special features were not implemented because they are not suitable for a question type with such a clear-cut purpose.

Detail Configuration

• Show answer texts: Per default, the texts of the answer options are used as Alt text. Optionally they can be displayed below the icons.

• Display reset button: If this option is activated, a Reset icon will be shown next to the stars.

• Icon for active stars / inactive stars: If you want to use other icons, simply click on the default icons. Then, you can select the desired files from the media library.

• Icon for the reset button. The selected image is used for the Reset icon.

Other standard and scale matrices

Survey provides three further question types which merely differ from question type 311 in their layout. The use of inside titles is not possible with these question types.

• Standard matrix 2, question type 312:

  • The answers appear next to the respective radio buttons.

  • Display on mobile devices: You can optionally use a drop-down list instead of the usual list of radio buttons.

Using these alternatives is especially recommended when a matrix question becomes so long that the respondent has to scroll. That is because, with the question types 312, 321 and 322, the text of the scale is displayed with each question and does not disappear from view during scrolling.

When using this question type, please note the following particularity concerning the display of questions with more than 6 scale options. If you set 6 scale options, all options are displayed properly.

If you set 7 scale options or more, the participant can only display them hovering over the respective selection field:

Available question options vary slightly from question type 311. Use of “Answer option + text” and inside titles is not possible. Also, some other 311 question options such as, for example vertical flips are not available for some of these question types as they do not make sense in the changed layout.

Semantic Differential

A special form of matrix question is the so-called semantic differential.

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Optional: Scale options 1-m

• Optional: Title left pole / right pole

• Answer options 1-n left pole / right pole

• Optional: Inside titles 1-o

The semantic differential cannot be used as source or target question for a list.

Question Options

The following specific options are available for designing a semantic differential:

• Only in projects with classic system layout: Width of the left column with the question texts (in pixels): This feature allows you to specify the width of the poles.

• Only in projects with classic system layout: Width of a scale property (in pixels): The width of the scale characteristics can be changed.

• Show scale: After you have ticked the checkbox and clicked on Save, a scale will be displayed above the radio buttons. As usual with matrix questions, this scale is edited in the “Scale” section.

• Title left / right pole: This feature allows you to insert headers above the answer options.

Double-scale Matrix

This form of question is often used to query both the importance and the degree of completion. The following is an example from a study conducted to track the postuniversity careers of graduates.

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Columns 1, 2

• Scale options of the two columns 1-m

• Dimensions 1-n

Question type-specific Options

The following specific options are available for designing a question:

• Position of answer options: The answer options can be positioned to the left, right or center.

• Insert separating line between scales: You can insert a line separating the scales.

Entry dialog

The double-scale matrix entry dialog is largely similar to the entry dialog for a standard matrix. Only the “Scale” section differs: In question type 351 both columns are listed in this section and you open the individual scales with a link to Edit scale.

Drop-down matrix

This question type can be used to ask questions for which different time states (e.g. for certain university years) or different factual aspects (e.g. geographical limits, such as continents) are given. The time-based or factual differentiation is reflected in the column. The question itself is documented in the row. The following is an example from a survey conducted to assess lectures.

There are two question types which allow you to create a drop-down matrix:

• The figure above shows a normal drop-down matrix (question type 361).

• Alternatively, you can create a vertical drop-down matrix (question type 364), i.e. a mirrored version of question type 361.

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Columns 1-m

• Scale options 1-n

• Dimensions 1-o

Checkbox matrix

Using a checkbox matrix allows you to query facts, for which differing temporal states (e.g. before, during, following a course of study) or different factual aspects (e.g. delineated geographically, such as continents) are required. The temporal or factual differentiation is reflected in the column. The question itself is documented in the row. Below is an example from a survey in which the subsequent career of university graduates is polled.

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Columns 1-n

• Dimensions 1-m

There is no cell-specific information. There is no description text for the checkboxes.

Entry Dialog

The checkbox matrix entry dialog is largely similar to the entry dialog for a standard scale matrix. Only the section “Scale” differs slightly: the columns are created in this section. Furthermore, you can tag the columns of the checkbox matrix as „exclusive“.

Text field matrix

This complex question type allows you to collect a variety of information. This question type is a combination of rows and columns, thus forming a matrix. The information stored in the cells of this matrix is collected using text fields. This question type is therefore called “text field matrix”.

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Columns 1-n

• Dimensions 1-m

• Cell text for each cell, i.e., with m rows and n columns, m x n cells. Each cell contains text which can be placed before the text field and text which can be placed after the text field.

Entry Dialog

There are some special features in the text field matrix entry dialog:

• In the “Scale” section the columns are created as explained for the checkbox matrix in the preceding Chapter.

• In the “Answers” section you can specify the maximum length of the entry for each text field. Default in “Responsive layout” projects: 255 characters. A maximum of 255 characters is permitted.

• In projects with classic layout, the display width can be specified as well.

• If you wish to specify text around the entry field click the Edit cell text link. Using the “%s” wildcard you can also specify as with other text field questions where the entry field is to appear.

Accordion matrix

This question type allows a more accessible display of matrix questions on mobile devices. In addition to making the question more accessible on mobile devices, the nature of the layout of this question types reduces the likelihood of people straight lining their answers. Along with the settings known for a matrix question type, you will find further settings in the detailed configuration that control the structure of the question in the questionnaire view. The information icon informs you in detail about the various options.

Carousel

The carousel question type is one that has been requested by many customers so we are delighted to include this new question type with Responsive Layout 3.1. This question type provides a more intuitive and simple way for a respondent to provide answers to a long list of questions. Rather than presenting a long list of questions, each question is shown individually to the respondent and the survey automatically switches to the next question upon completion of the current question. This question type supports both left to right and right to left languages.

Hotspot

The hotspot question type enables you to place answer options onto particular areas of a selected picture. Before uploading your picture, note that you should start by defining necessary dimensions and scales.

Elements

This question type has the following content elements:

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Scale options 1-n

• Answer options 1-n

Detail configuration for Matrix question types

• Exclusive mode for areas: Only one area can be rated. If other areas have been previously rated, they will be reset.

• Show answer texts as tooltip: The respective answer text will be displayed as a tool tip when hovering over it.

• Initial state for areas: States how areas are displayed initially and whether a button to display unrated areas should be included.

• Color for unselected areas: States the color for areas which have not yet been rated.

• Label of button for displaying areas Defines the button for displaying areas.

• Text of the default value in the selected box: Defines the text of the default value in the selected box.

• Label of button for closing the dialog Defines the button which closes the dialog.

• Image: Upload images, or change and delete previously uploaded images.

Editing-tools for shapes

Tips and Tricks: Shortcut keys

Helpful shortcut keys will make the editing process easier.

Detail configuration of the fallback image

In the case that participants do not have JavaScript installed a fallback image will be displayed instead. Go to the section Detail configuration fallback image for further configurations.

Suggestions

Suggestions for improvements on chosen topics can now be easily collected in a survey by equipping it with the new Ideation matrix question type, which has a catchy input mask. Participants first enter a title in a separate line before they enter the suggestion in the user-defined text field. 

Make the following settings:

• Show counter

• Counter pattern

• Title label

• Description label

• Description row count

• Add button

• Remove button

• Close button

• Animation type on opening

• Animation duration on opening

• Animation type on closing

• Animation duration on closing

Three text field are preset. If you want to add more, you must add dimensions in the configuration. Title bar and description text field each contain a v_ variable.

Sliders

Sliders are used to collect nuanced statements. Typical use cases include the evaluation of a company, an employee or the agreement with statements e.g. on a scale from 1 to 10.

Silders

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Scale options 1-m

• Display field for selected scale value

Please note:

• This question type requires that the respondents have JavaScript activated. EFS affords you the option of checking for JavaScript prior to the start of the questionnaire and filtering out unsuitable respondents.

• The coding of answers corresponds to the coding of a standard matrix (311).

• Variables are initially preset with the slider’s initial position code. If the start position of the slider is not predefined and the participant sees the slider but does not move it, code “0” will be assigned. This is standard behavior of all question types.

• You can define the position of the scale and of the labels. If necessary, elements as e.g. the scale labels can be hidden, too. But please mind: Similar to other matrix question types, a scale with at least one scale option must be specified, even if you do not display the labels. The slider cannot function without a scale.

• Which number of scale options can be reasonably displayed depends of the userdefined width of the slider bar.

• The labels of the scale options are transformed into graphics.

  • Please mind that it may not be possible to convert characters of non-European languages properly.

  • It is not possible to insert images directly into the scale.

Matrix slider

The matrix slider enables the simultaneous creation of several horizontal and vertical sliders in responsive layout questionnaires.

Please note:

• This question type requires that the respondents have JavaScript activated. EFS affords you the option of checking for JavaScript prior to the start of the questionnaire and filtering out unsuitable respondents.

• The coding of answers corresponds to the coding of a standard matrix (311).

• Variables are initially preset with the slider’s initial position code. If the start position of the slider is not predefined and the participant sees the slider but does not move it, code “0” will be assigned. This is standard behavior of all question types.

• You can define the position of the scale and of the labels. If necessary, elements as e.g. the scale labels can be hidden, too. But please mind: Similar to other matrix question types, a scale with at least one scale option must be specified, even if you do not display the labels. The slider cannot function without a scale.

• Which number of scale options can be reasonably displayed depends of the userdefined width of the slider bar.

• The labels of the scale options are transformed into graphics.

  • Please mind that it may not be possible to convert characters of non-European languages properly.

  • It is not possible to insert images directly into the scale.

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Scale options 1-m

• Dimensions 1-n

• Display field for selected scale value

Detail Configuration

The following table lists the question type-specific options.

Color Switch Configuration

You may configure the slider to change colors once a particular threshold is passed. The colour can be adjusted to your purposes by clicking on the pipette icon and selecting from a range of colors, or by directly entering the respective html color code.

Making scales start with “0”

Creating a scale that starts with “0” is a little bit tricky. As with most other EFS question types, the slider’s code “0” is a system missing value reserved for seen but not answered questions. Therefore, the creation of an answer option encoded “0” is not possible.

To bypass this issue, create an answer option which may have any code unequal “0” (e.g. code = “101” in a scale from “0” to “100”) and the number “1”, but is labelled “0”.

Please mind that if you use such a scale, the display of the scale values in a box on the right hand must be deactivated: The box contains the code, which might cause misunderstandings in this special case.

Linked slider

The “Linked Slider” question type is designed for constant sum questions. But instead of asking participants to enter values, the values are visualized using sliders. Therefore, this type is both easier to handle and it results in more detailed answers.

Technically, the “Linked Slider” is based on the vertical multi text field (143). If it cannot be output in a reasonable manner, the “Constant sum” question type serves as fallback. Currently, the slider can be output in an optimal way on tablet and desktop. For iPhone and other smartphones with a narrow display, the fallback will be used.

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Answer options 1-n

• Display fields for selected scale values

• Automatically calculated sum

Detail Configuration

• Foreground color: This color is used for the slider’s foreground.

• Background color: This color is used for the slider’s background.

• Maximum value: Maximum value of the slider.

• Force maximum value: The sum of all values has to equal the maximum value.

• Error message if maximum value is not reached: Default: “Please total the choices to %s.”

• Sum caption: Caption in the sum row. Default: “Total.”

• Unit: The label for the displayed unit of the sliders.

• Position of the unit: The chosen unit can be positioned before or after the input field.

• Show scale: The scale values are displayed.

• Alternating rows: Every second row can be shown in a different color.

Sliders (Numbers)

The “Responsive Layout” slider is realized based on question type 911 with a comparable functional scope, see Chapter 5.7, p. 203. The slider is not yet integrated into external editing. Hiding conditions on question level are supported. In EFS Reporting+, the values will be treated like open answers, i.e. they
need to be recoded for further analysis.

The entry dialog is closely related to the entry dialog of question type 911

• The “Answers” section is generated automatically. Please do not change anything in this section.

• The features of the “Detail configuration” and “Color switch configuration” sections are explained in the Tables below.

Detail Configuration

Color Switch Configuration

Ranking - Rating

Stars Rating

The question type “Stars rating” allows to easily visualize answer options, by integrating e.g. smileys, thumbs for Yes/No questions, dice, numbers, gender icons or other visual elements.

• Depending on the screen width of the device used, the star rating scale will be displayed horizontally or vertically. Optionally vertical alignment can be enforced for all devices.

• When creating a new question, smileys are integrated automatically.

• The rating direction is from left to right.

• You can resort to other predefined images in the Tivian library or upload your own images to the media library.

• Technically, the new question type is based on the familiar single response list (111).

• 3 - 10 answer options are recommendable for methodic reasons. Technically, up to 20 stars can be displayed.

Base Elements

• Question text

• Fill-in instruction

• Help text

• Answer options 1-n

Entry Dialog

The entry dialog is closely related to the familiar entry dialog of question type 111. However several special features were not implemented because they are not suitable for a question type with such a clear-cut purpose.

Detail Configuration

• Show answer texts: Per default, the texts of the answer options are used as Alt text. Optionally they can be displayed below the icons.

• Show reset button: If this option is activated, a Reset icon will be shown next to the stars.

• Initial value: This text is used in the fallback drop-down list for the default option.

• Icon for active stars / inactive stars: To change the icons simply click on the default icons. Then, you can select the desired files from the media library.

• Icon for the reset button: The selected image is used for the Reset icon.

Ranking and Drag Ranking

The two question types allow to realize state-of-art ranking questions in “Responsive Layout” projects.

• Click ranking: The rank is allocated by simply clicking on the answer options, starting with the most important. The clicked dimensions are indented and their allocated rank is displayed.

• Drag ranking: The participants drag the answer options into an answer box and sort them in the desired order, from the most important to the most irrelevant.

  • Please note that the number of items is limited to 18.

Fallback Behavior

The following fallback behavior guarantees a flexible adaptation of the question design to the devices used.

• Click ranking questions can be displayed on Smartphones and Tablets. If the participant’s device does not have JavaScript activated, drop-down lists are used as fallback.

• For drag ranking, the click ranking is used as fallback on smartphones. If the participant’s device does not have JavaScript activated, drop-down lists are used as fallback.

Entry Dialog

The features of the “Detail configuration” and “Layout configuration” sections are explained in the Tables below. Several of the color options listed above are initially preset with colors specified in the menu Layout → tab Default colors.

Detail configuration

Layout configuration

Advanced

You can supplement the typified standard question types with their predefined arrangement of form elements by creating question types of your own. For this purpose, the question type 911 (“User-defined”) is available to advanced users with knowledge of HTML. In this question type, the arrangement of the form elements can be laid out as required.

User Defined

You can supplement the typified standard question types with their predefined arrangement of form elements by creating question types of your own. For this purpose, the question type 911 (“User-defined”) is available to advanced users with knowledge of HTML. In this question type, the arrangement of the form elements can be laid out as required.

The following EFS Survey features are supported when using 911 variables:

• Plausibility checks. Please note: server side format checks (PHP) can only be applied to variables of type “text” or “short text”.

• Depot questions

• Multilingual capability for entries into the “Edit HTML” field.

• Output of variable contents via wildcards

Creating a user-defined question

• In the drop-down list of question types, select the question type 911 (“Userdefined”).

• You will see a two-part form. The upper part of the form shows the variables created for this question. The “Edit HTML” section is where you enter the HTML code for outputting your question.

• Add new variables as required, or tick the checkbox “Delete” to delete superfluous variables. The example above will output a text field, with the data saved in the “v_40” variable.

• Save your entries.

Variable names and types

Creating a question of the type 911 will automatically create five variables. You can add more variables by entering a label into the “New” row and selecting a type.

• The “answer option” serves as an internal description of an individual variable in the question type 911. It will be output in the codebook and used to label the variable for the SPSS export.

• As with all other question types, an external variable name may be entered.

• The “Variable type” defines how the variable is to be created in the database:

Overview of variables for question type 911

Use the following table for orientation when defining your variables

Error sources

Questions of the type 911 should be carefully tested: Is the HTML code correct? Are the data saved correctly? Possible errors:

• The variable definition does not match the use in the HTML code: For example, a text field has been defined as an “Integer” variable; the data will be saved incorrectly.

• The variable names used in the HTML code do not match the system variable names assigned to the question. The data will not be saved.

• The HTML code is incorrect, e.g. containing non-closed tables.

Converting standard questions to user-defined questions

It is very easy for you to convert standard questions to user-defined questions. This involves assuming the variable names, and you can modify the HTML code generated when outputting the standard question.

• To convert a question, click on the Change question type icon ber in front of the question name in the question view. If conversion is permitted, the number is clickable.

• Select the question type 911.

• Click on the Change button.

The Upload Question Type

The upload question type allows participants to upload files into the questionnaire. E.g. in a standardized job application survey, this allows to collect the CV together with the survey data.

• The upload question type is optionally available. If you are interested in using it,

  please get in touch with the Support of Tivian.

• When creating new questions, you can find the upload question type in the category “Advanced”.

• Technically, the new question type is based on the familiar question type 143.

• After successful upload, the file name is displayed to the participants. Via a dedicated Remove button, they can remov the file.

• In the “Detail configuration” section, file type and file size can be specified. EFS supports various MS Office formats, PDF, text and image files, video and audio files and various compression formats (the info icon provides details). Please mind: Not all mobile devices support upload of all file formats.

• The loading indicator and success message icon can be changed.

• File name and file size are stored in survey variables.

• Question-type specific messages for invalid entries can be modified in the section “text configuration”.

• The files can be downloaded from the menu Statistics → Uploaded files. The file name contains the participant’s consecutive number (lfdn) and the file name used by the participant.

• Access to this menu is protected by the new right “report_onlinefiles”. It is initially assigned to all user teams that have rights to “report_onlinerep”.

• During uploads, files are immediately scanned for malware, before being moved to their final destination within the EFS platform. If a malware is found, files are immediately removed from the temporary storage and the user is notified that the upload was not successful. This approach ensures that at no point malware can be distributed through EFS.

The Lua Question Type

The LUA question type enhances the recoding ability of EFS and supports LUA language version 5.1 with default functions. Simple tasks are possible, such as recoding of survey variables or free formatting of date specifications.

LUA question type supports LUA language and runs on a sandbox with EFS specific functionalities:

• Access to any survey variable via the sandbox, e. g. _G["md_0001"]

• setVariableValue(varName, varValue): Writes varValue into the cariable. Any varia- bles in the survey, including the question type‘s variables can be written into. Example: setVariableValue('v_1',1)

• setQuestionOutput(text): Instead of using print, you should use setQuestionOut- put, which prints text in the proper HTML-container in the questionnaire. Subse- quent request will replace text.

• getQuotaIds(): Returnsa list of all quota IDs in the survey.

• getQuotaDebitValue(quotaId): Returns the target value for the quota ID.

• getQuotaCurrentValue(quotaId): Returns the current quota count for quota ID.

• getQuotaFillingDegree(quotaId): Returns the filling degree as a float for quota ID.

The LUA question type comes with two code boxes, the first one is executed before sending the page to the participant, the second code box is executed when a user sub- mits the page containing the LUA question type.

You can include your own function libraries from the media library (global or project specific, text files with the extension .txt or .lua). Hiding conditions can be employed and you may define whether the script should be executed every time the page is called or only once (e.g. when using a page trigger or the back-button).

Find the LUA question type in the questionnaire editor in the Advanced section.