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Coded variables

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Coded variables for radio, checkbox, and numeric input questions can be created via the question types coded single select, coded multiple select, and coded number, respectively. These question types are hidden/non-respondent facing variables derived from responses to other questions, and can work alongside both quotas and click balance quotas.

The coded variable types include some built-in properties, equivalent to the following in previous versions of IntelliSurvey. 

New Type Defaults/Equivalent to
type: coded single select type: radio
selectby: condition

type: coded multiple select

(alias coded multi select)

 type: checkbox
selectby: condition
type: coded number type: number
invisible: y

Tip! Although selectby: condition is built into both coded single select and coded multiple select question types, SPs may override this behavior by applying a different selectby input, such as selectby: weight.

See below for examples.

Syntax

Basic syntax for coded single select, coded multiple select, and coded number variables is as follows.

# basic coded single select
1. Coded single select variable
type: coded single select
1. Opt 1
2. Opt 2
3. Opt 3, etc.

# basic coded multi-select variable
2. Coded multiple select variable
type: coded multiple select
1. Opt 1
2. Opt 2
3. Opt 3, etc.

# basic coded numeric variable
3. Coded number variable
type: coded number
cvalue: value, expression, or logical statement

Tags

The following tags can be applied with coded variables.

Tag Description For use with...
selectby

Specifies how respondents are assigned to a group/groups when they may qualify for more than one. Common selectby inputs include: 

  • counts - Selects the option(s) that have the lowest number of completes in the data. This is used when the counts for each option must be balanced across respondents.
  • weight - Selects the option(s) based on priority, or a weight value, defined in the survey code. The highest weight gets selected first. The weight can be a static or dynamic value (e.g., a previous question in the survey). If a weight is not defined, the default value of '0' is used.
  • condition/random - These are synonymous. Selects the option(s) first by condition, then randomly in the instance of a tie. This is useful when balanced counts are not needed, such as when the respondent would necessarily only qualify for one option. It is best practice to use selectby: random/condition in place of selectby: counts when possible, as it requires fewer system resources to execute.
  • calculate - New for r8.0; requires inclusion of the cvalue tag. Selects the option(s) based on the calculated value defined in cvalue. Not for use with coded number variables.

The selectby tag will accept multiple inputs – e.g., selectby: weights, counts – but selectby: calculate cannot be used in tandem with other inputs.

For use with all three coded variable types; users should note that both coded single select and coded multiple select, by default, utilize selectby: condition. SPs may apply other selectby methods to override this behavior.
cvalue Calculates and sets a value for a question or variable when the parent page is submitted. cvalue accepts any logical statement or Perl expression for input. Used with coded number variables; required with selectby: calculate.
maxgroups Specifies the maximum number of options or quota groups that a respondent may be assigned to, provided that the respondent meets qualifying condition criteria and, in the case of a quota, the bucket is not full. For use with coded multiple select variables.
quotas Setting to 'y' creates a quota variable based off the question of the format QX_QUOTA, where "X" is the original question's ID. For use with coded single select and coded multiple select.

click balance quotas

(alias cbq)

Setting to 'y' creates a "click balance quota," a quota that is based on all incoming traffic, instead of only completes like a typical quota. Click balance quota variables created in this manner have the format of QX_CBQ, where "X" is the original question's ID.

The cbq tag can be applied alongside quotas: y tag to create two sets of quotas from a question/variable.

 For use with coded single select and coded multiple select.

Example

For the purposes of this article, we will use an extended example to illustrate various ways in which coded variables can be utilized. The following set of questions asks respondents for their familiarity with and usage of various grocery stores, examining whether they tend to use "supermarkets" or "club/warehouse" grocers more frequently. 

Coded single select

Coded single select variables, by default, operate as if selectby: condition is built into them. Options therefore require conditions to specify how the respondent should be categorized. If no condition is present it will evaluate as 'true,' and a respondent could be placed into a bucket erroneously.

CLUB. Is primary store club or grocery?
type: coded single select
1. Supermarket { if anyChecked($QPRIMARY,1..7) }
2. Club / Warehouse { if anyChecked($QPRIMARY,8..10) }

Coded multiple select

Like coded single select variables, coded multiple select variables default to selectby: condition and require that options/groupings are conditioned. 

HEARD. Stores heard of but never shopped
type: coded multiple select
optsfrom: STORES { if anyChecked($Q1,[id]) and noneChecked($Q2,[id]) }

Overriding default selectby inputs

Other selectby inputs can be utilized with both coded single select and coded multiple select variables.

PRIMARY. Store where majority of shopping done
type: coded single select
selectby: weight
optsfrom: STORES { weight: $Q3R[id] }

TOP2. Top 2 Stores where shopping done
type: coded multiple select
maxgroups: 2
selectby: weight, counts
optsfrom: STORES { weight: $Q3R[id] }


If applying selectby: calculate, be sure to specify how the values are calculated with the cvalue tag.

CLUB1. Is primary store club or grocery? (same as QCLUB but using calculate/cvalue)
type: coded single select
selectby: calculate
cvalue: if ($QPRIMARY<8) {1} else {2} 
1. Supermarket 
2. Club / Warehouse

Coded number variables

Coded number variables calculate input based on the logic expressions or math specified in the cvalue tag as shown below.

TOTAL_SPEND_GROCERY. Total Spend at Grocery Stores
type: coded number
cvalue: $Q3R1 + $Q3R2 + $Q3R3 + $Q3R4 + $Q3R5 + $Q3R6 + $Q3R7

TOTAL_SPEND_CLUB. Total Spend at Club Stores
type: coded number
cvalue: $Q3R8 + $Q3R9 + $Q3R10

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