quotas tag

A quota is a predefined limit that controls how many respondents with specific characteristics can complete the survey. If a question's options align with the required quotas, simply apply the quotas tag to automatically derive the quotas from the question.

4. What is your annual household income, before taxes?
type: radio
quotas: y
1. Less than $25,000
2. $25,000 to less than $50,000
3. $50,000 to less than $75,000
4. $75,000 to less than $100,000
5. $100,000 to less than $150,000
6. $150,000 to less than $200,000
7. $200,000 or more
98. Do not wish to reply

This article discusses derived quotas created with the quotas tag. If custom quota buckets are needed, use the type: quotas widget to create a standalone quota variable.

Details

• Derived quotas can be created from closed-ended questions and variables. 
• The quotas tag can be included with click balance quotas and coded variables.
• Radio (single-select) questions generate single option quotas. Checkbox (multiselect) questions generate multi-punch quotas.
• When the quotas tag is applied to a checkbox question and more than one quota group can be assigned, the quota variable defaults to the maximum number allowed by the question it's based on.
• The quotas tag accepts inclusion/exclusion syntax, e.g., quotas: [1..5] and quotas: -[98]. It also accepts conditional "if statements" within the square brackets, e.g., quotas: [if [id]<10].
• If a term: y decorator is added next to an option in a question that includes the quota tag, that option is automatically excluded from the quota groups created for the question.
• Quotas are managed in the Quotas applet.

Quotas in reporting

Derived quotas appear in the Quota variables chapter of the reporting field tree. To place a quota in a different chapter, use the quota chapter tag and specify the chapter label. When using the quota chapter tag, only the quota moves to the specified chapter; the question remains in its original location. Make sure the chapter is defined first with the define chapters widget. 

Derived quotas follow the naming format "QX_QUOTA", where "X" is the question's ID (e.g., Q2 creates Q2_QUOTA). To customize the suffix, use the quota suffix tag (e.g., quota suffix: _QTA).

Respondents receive a status of 'T' ("Terminated") if they fail to qualify for a quota. If they qualify but the quota is full, they are marked as 'Q' ("Over Quota"). The oq variable tracks over quota data, and the oq text tag can be used to add a custom description (e.g., oq text: Age Quota).

Additional examples

Creating regular quotas and click balance quotas together

Regular quotas and click balance quotas (CBQs) can be created from the same question or variable by applying the click balance quota and quotas tags together. In QAGE, all options are viable quota options. However, QINCOME uses exclusion syntax to remove option 98 from both the click balance quota and regular quota variables.

AGE. What is your age?
type: pulldown
click balance quota: y
quotas: y
1. Under 18
2. 18-24
3. 25-34
4. 35-44
5. 45-54
6. 55-64
7. 65 or older

INCOME. Which of the following categories best represents your annual household income (before taxes)?
type: radio
click balance quota: -[98]
quotas: -[98]
1. Less than $25,000
2. $25,000 - $49,999
3. $50,000 - $74,999
4. $75,000 - $99,999
5. $100,000 - $149,999
6. $150,000 - $199,999
7. $200,000 or more
98. Prefer not to answer