Question types

Table of contents

• General
• Arrays
  • A - Array (5 Point choice)
  • B - Array (10 Point choice)
  • C - Array (Yes/No/Uncertain)
  • E - Array (Increase/Same/Decrease)
  • F - Array (Flexible Labels)
  • H - Array (flexible Labels) by Column
  • "1" - Array (flexible Labels) Dual Scale
  • ":" - Array (Multi Flexible) (Numbers)
  • ";" - Array (Multi Flexible) (Text)
• Mask Questions:
  • D - Date
  • G - Gender
  • N - Numerical input
  • K - Multiple Numerical Input
    • Multiple numerical -> Slider layout
  • R - Ranking
  • X - Boilerplate
  • Y - Yes/No
  • I - Language switch
• Multiple choice questions
  • M - Multiple Options
  • P - Multiple Options with Comments
• Single choice questions
  • Lists
    • "!" - List Dropdown
    • "5" - 5 Point choice
    • L - List radio
    • O - List with comment
    • W - List flexible labels dropdown
    • Z - List flexible labels radio
  • Text questions
    • Q - Multiple short text
    • K - Multiple Numerical
    • S - Short free text
    • T - Long free text
    • U - Huge free text
• Styling questions

General

This section is attempt to explain the supported question types and is meant to provide suggestions for solving your needs expanding the defaults by using the Label sets. Also some question type specific Question attributes are introduced.
By the way, the LimeSurvey download package includes a sample survey which includes all question types. You´ll find it in your /docs/demosurveys-Directory - import it and test it out!

Arrays

The Array type further extends the List type. In this question a matrix can be displayed in which columns are represented by the options in the Label sets and Answers in the rows.
The text of the question can be either a specific question or a description.

In terms of output there is no difference in how responses are stored. In both cases an answer has its separate column, however there are some core differences in the way in which questions are presented.

LimeSurvey currently supports the following built-in array types:

A - Array (5 Point choice)

Eg: To what extent do you agree with the following comments (1=Strongly Agree, 5=Strongly Disagree):

B - Array (10 Point choice)

The same as above, only with 10 instead of 5:

C - Array (Yes/No/Uncertain)

E - Array (Increase/Same/Decrease)

Do you agree with the following proposals:

F - Array (Flexible Labels)

Like for the List type the power of the Array type is maximized with flexible labels.
An array of flexible labels allows you to select from a predefined label as your headings, and let your participants respond to a series of possible answers/options using those headings.
The two options available are using a matrix organized by rows or columns:

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A further option available with Arrays is the Semantic Differential . This is a modification of Array (Flexible Labels) or Array (5 point choice). You also have to choose Array (Flexible Labels) or Array (5 point choice) as your question type and afterwards you can part the answer which should be on the left side from the answer on the right side of the array by using a Pipe Char '|' (If you do not know where is the Pipe Char on your keyboard you can enter it by pressing and holding Alt key, entering 124 and releasing the Alt key). For example: If you want to have 'Good' and 'Evil' on the left and right of the row just write 'Good|Evil' into the answer field:

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H - Array (flexible Labels) by Column

This is the example of F - Array (Flexible Labels) using flexible labels as columns:

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"1" - Array (flexible Labels) Dual Scale

The question type Array (Flexible Labels) Dual Scale enables two scales with label sets for each answer, as is shown in the example below. A heading can be set for each scale using the question attributes 'dualscale_headerA' and 'dualscale_headerB':

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You can set a special question attribute to use this question type with dropdown boxes:

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":" - Array (Multi Flexible) (Numbers)

since 1.80
New in version 1.80 is the Array (Multi Flexible) (Numbers) . The Array (Multi Flexible) (Numbers) question type allows a large array of numbered dropdown boxes with a set of answers as the “y-axis”, and a label set as the “x-axis”. It provides for a very large display of question and answers. By default the dropdown box contains the numbers from 1 to 10, however this can be changed by adjusting the question attributes.The behavior is like this, if you only specify a minimum value the range will adjust as min value + 10, if you only specify a max value, the range will be 1 and max value. When both min and max are present if min > max , no dropdown box will be displayed otherwise it works as usual.

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You can set a special question attribute to use this question type with checkboxes:

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";" - Array (Multi Flexible) (Text)

since 1.80
The Array (Multi Flexible) (Text) question type allows a large array of text boxes with a set of answers as the “y-axis”, and a label set as the “x-axis”. It provides for a very large display of question and answers:

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Mask Questions:

D - Date

This question type can be used to ask for a certain date which can be entered using the javascript calendar or by using the form. Keep in mind that a date has to be in the format YYYY-MM-DD e.g. 2009-12-31.


When setting the question attribute dropdown_dates to "1" you can use three dropdown boxes to enter a date. Since version 1.80 you can also specifiy a min. and max. value for dropdown dates.

G - Gender

N - Numerical input

Limit enter to number and dot.

K - Multiple Numerical Input

Like the Multiple Short Text question type, this is a variation on the "Numerical Input" question type. It allows multiple text boxes to be created each of which can only be answered using numbers. Each text box corresponds to an answer, and the answer text becomes the label for the input.
There are several question attributes which can be used to extend the functionality of this question type. The following example uses the equals_num_value question attribute which checks if the entered numbers match a certain sum:

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Multiple numerical -> Slider layout

since 1.80
From version 1.8 a new feature was implemented to adapt the Multiple numerical question type using it in combination with jquery. By setting the question attribute slider_layout to 1, the usual input box is converted into a slider and details of all the properties are described in the http://docs.limesurvey.org/tiki-index.php?page=Question+Attributes. The look of the slider is determined via css which in the default template are defined as .ui-slider.

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R - Ranking

Allows you to present your participants with a list of possible answers/options, which they may then rank in order of preference. This question type uses javascript.

Eg: Please rank the following movies in order of your preference:

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X - Boilerplate

This type of question is one that does not require an answer from the user. It can be used to provide further instructions or a design break in the survey.
Please note that the text of the question can take html or javascript code, therefore it can also be used for other purposes.

Y - Yes/No

I - Language switch

With this question it´s possible to change the language of the survey. In a dropdown box the users can choose between the languages which the survey is available in (base and additional languages).

Multiple choice questions

Sometimes one would like the user to enter more than one entry for the same question; this is achieved using tick boxes.

M - Multiple Options

P - Multiple Options with Comments

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Single choice questions

Single choice questions are those which provide only one possible entry type. A question like 'What is your name?' is an example and the most typical entry option is a text field.

Lists

The list type of question allows to present single questions using the same answers, but each question is displayed individually (also in terms of design!).

If one wants to customize the type of answers and use custom Label sets the options are infinite and LimeSurvey allows the designer to choose how these should be displayed:

"!" - List Dropdown

You can also create subcategories within this list by using the question attribute category_separator.

"5" - 5 Point choice

L - List radio

O - List with comment

W - List flexible labels dropdown

The advantage of a list using labels is that labels can be used over and over. The 'normal' List expects the designer to define answers on the fly which are used only for the specific question.
Usually the List with flexible labels can be used in place of the List (radio/dropdown) in most cases and the Label sets can be re-used. If, however, one wants to have an open ended option in the list (ie other, specify...) the List with comment will be the only possible option.

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Z - List flexible labels radio

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Text questions

LimeSurvey provides a number of possible variations of the standard text field. All of these can be defined further using the Question attributes which permit to restrict the number of characters as well as the size of the field.
Furthermore text input can be validated by using regular expressions.

Q - Multiple short text

This question type is a variation on the "Short Text" question type which allows more than one text entry per question. The user first defines the question and can then add additional text boxes by adding 'Answers'. Each answer becomes the label of the new text box.

K - Multiple Numerical

You can also use a slider layout:

S - Short free text

in MySQL, it's a text type. Lenght 65 536 characters.

T - Long free text

in MySQL, it's a text type. Lenght 65 536 characters.

U - Huge free text

in MySQL, it's a text type. Lenght 65 536 characters.

Styling questions

Since version 1.80 it is possible to generally edit the question layout/design by using CSS. You can find more information at Templates & Styles/The Template Editor -> Styling questions in Limesurvey 1.8

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