Create, Collect, and Analyze Surveys and Web Forms

Survey Software from WISCO Computing
WISCO Survey - Question Types - Introduction

Your survey can include any combination of these question types. Question types determine how the choices and responses are displayed and analyzed. The question type determines the amount of space that will be reserved in the response data file. Question types can not usually be revised after survey responses have been entered. Some question types can be revised with the Utility Menu - Advanced Utilities selection.

1. Single Choice12. Calendar Date23. 5-Column Numeric - Huge
2. Multiple Choice13. Numeric Group - Huge24. Memo
3. Multiple Choice/Other14. Multiple Choice - Huge25. Thematic Map
4. Single Scale15. Multiple Choice/Other - Huge26. Text Group
5. Multiple Scale16. Single Select27. 5-Column Numeric
6. 2-Group Multiple Scale17. Numeric Entry28. Name / Address
7. Numeric Rank18. Single Choice / Other29. Multiple Single Choice
8. 3-Column Array19. Multiple Scale - Huge30. 10-Column Array
9. Numeric Group20. Numeric Rank - Huge31. 5-Column Array
10. 3-Column Numeric21. 5-Column Array - Huge 
11. Text Entry22. Semantic Differential 

Selecting the right question types is important for a successful survey. Four question types, (11) Text Entry, and (24) Memo, (26) Text Group, and (28) Name/Address are called open-ended. Open ended questions are used when you can not determine ahead of time the number of possible responses to a survey question. Open-ended questions also allow a survey respondent provide additional textual information. Closed-ended question types limit the number of allowable responses. WISCO Survey includes three hybrid question types (3, 15,and 18) allowing some predetermined choices plus an option for 'Other' text responses.

Whenever possible, closed-ended question types should be used instead of open-ended question types. Closed-ended question types are easier to analyze. Open-ended question types require interpretation to summarize text responses.

Huge Options

Question types determine the amount of space that will be reserved in the response data file. Question types automatically determine the amount of space needed from the 4000 maximum characters allowed for each set of survey responses (240 per question). Seven question types offer a small and huge option. The huge option reserves more space in the response data file than the small option.

Question types 2 and 14 are both multiple choice questions. Since a multiple choice question needs to be able to save responses for all possible selections, the response file size must be adjusted for the number of possible responses. Question type 2 allows up to 9 text choices, and reserves 9 characters in the response file. Question type 14 (Huge) allows up to 25 text choices, and reserves 25 characters in the response file. Select the most appropriate question type based on the number of possible text choices. Question type 2 can be changed to a question type 14 even after responses have been entered using the Preferences Menu - Advanced Utilities - second column selection.

Question TypeSizeMaximum choices
(2,14) Multiple Choice/Other9 or 259 or 25 choices
(3,15) Multiple Choice/Other9 or 25+Text Entry9 or 25 choices
(5,19) Multiple Scale9 or 259 or 25 choices
(7,20) Numeric Rank9 or 259 or 25 choices up to 5 values
(9,13) Numeric Group81 or 2259 or 25 values
(21,31) 5-Column Array45 or 1259 or 25 rows with 5 values
(27,23) 5-Column Numeric90 or 2406 or 16 rows with 5 integer values

If you had a text entry question asking for a Zip Code or Postal Code, it would make sense to limit the maximum entry to 10 characters (Zip+4 format). Canadian Postal Codes use a combination of 6 letters and numbers.