Training

Establishing a valid numeric range by choosing a minimum and maximum value is part of setting up numeric type questions in mrInterview’s “Build” activity or in Dimensions™ interview scripting. You can also:

• Change the allowable numeric range based on the response to another question
• Control the number of characters allowed in a response to a text question
• Control the number of responses to a categorical type question

The validation properties “MinValue” and “MaxValue” can be easily used to control for valid responses to questions. These properties can be set either in the routing section of a Dimensions interview script or through an “IOM Script (advanced)” in mrInterview’s “Build” activity.

Numeric Questions

At times, it may be desirable to base a question’s range of response on the answer to another question. In Figure 1 below, both questions have a preset range of 0 to 365. For “Foreign Travel,” however, the maximum number of vacation days acceptable should be a logical response to the question, “Vacation.”

To base the maximum allowable response to “ForeignTravel” on the response to “Vacation”:

• Insert an “IOM Script (advanced)” item before “ForeignTravel”
• Next, type this script into the Dimensions script box:
  
  ForeignTravel.Validation.MaxValue=Vacation
  
  

  where “ForeignTravel” is the question to which the new maximum value is being applied and “Vacation” is the source of the new maximum value.

Figure 1: Respondents can enter a value from “0” to the maximum value based on “Vacation.”
Click to enlarge.

To test the questions:

• Launch/Activate the survey
• Take the survey and enter “15” as the number of vacation days in “Vacation,” then enter “99” as the number of vacation days in “ForeignTravel”
• When you click on Next, you will see an error message noting that the valid range for “ForeignTravel” is 0 – 15, which is consistent with the answer given in “Vacation”

Figure 2: The error message shows the new valid numeric range.
Click to enlarge.

Similarly, the minimum value could be set using the following script:

Vacation2Year.Validation.MinValue=Vacation

where “Vacation2Year” is the question to which the new minimum value is applied and “Vacation” is the source of the new minimum value.

Figure 3: Respondents are allowed to enter a minimum value based on “Vacation.”
Click to enlarge.

Text Questions

The “MinValue” and “MaxValue” properties can be used to control the number of characters entered into a text type question using:

HotelConfirmCode.Validation.MinValue=7 HotelConfirmCode.Validation.MaxValue=8

where “HotelConfirmCode” is the question to which the character minimum and maximum are applied.

Figure 4: Respondents may only enter 7 or 8 characters.
Click to enlarge.

While the text box will only accept up to 8 characters, an error message will appear if the number of characters is less than 7 characters.

Categorical Questions

The “MinValue” and “MaxValue” properties can also be used to control the number of categories chosen from a multiple response categorical list using:

Destinations.Validation.MinValue=3 Destinations.Validation.MaxValue=5

where “Destinations” is the question to which the minimum and maximum number of responses are applied.

Figure 5: Respondents are allowed to choose only 3, 4, or 5 answers.
Click to enlarge.

When respondents click on Next, they will see an error message if they have chosen too few or too many answers to the question.

Summary

“Q.Validation.MinValue” and “Q.Validation.MaxValue” can be quickly and easily added to your questionnaire through “IOM Script (advanced)” items in “Build” activity or simply added to the routing context of a Dimensions interview script.

Adding logic requirements specific to your question type makes your questionnaire easier for respondents to complete, and ensures that they enter logical and valid answers.