CASE FrameworkSurvey Editor/Basics
Survey Items
Understanding the structure of survey items
Survey Items
A survey consists of items. An item can belong to either a question type or a non-question type category. A question item is structured by the following components:
Header
Item header elements consist of:
- Title (
H1) – Main question or prompt. - Subtitle (
H2) – Additional explanation or secondary text. - Help/Info popup – Optional tooltip for additional guidance.
Body
Main content that surrounds the response options:
- Top content (before response) – Text shown above the answer options.
- Response options – Here you define the response options. The type of question determines the available response configurations.
- Bottom content (after response) – Text shown after answer options.
Footnote
- Additional information displayed at the bottom of the item.
Question Types
Some question types are more basic, like the following:
| Question Type | Participant is allowed to... |
|---|---|
| Single Choice | Choose one option from a radio group. |
| Multiple Choice | Select multiple options from a list of checkboxes. |
| Date Input | Enter a date. |
| Time Input | Enter a time. |
| Text Input | Enter text input. |
| Numeric Input | Enter a number. |
| Slider | Select a value within a range using a slider. |
| Dropdown | Select one option from a list of choices. |
| Code Validator | Enter a code that will be validated. |
| Consent | Accept or reject a displayed consent. |
| Contact Form Question | Enter name, email, phone, address. |
More complex types are these:
| Question Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Single Choice Array | A list of single choice questions (Likert scale) |
| Bipolar Likert Array | A list of bipolar Likert scale questions. |
| Adaptive Question Grid | Response slots of same response type (e.g. input, dropdown, number) arranged in a grid. |
| Matrix | A table layout where the response type can be set independently for each slot. |
| Cloze Question | A mix of text and response slots for mixed style questions. |
| Validated Random Question | Randomly selects a question, only accepts valid text input responses. |
Other Item Types in a Survey
Besides question items, a survey can contain several non-question structural or informational items. These help organize and enrich the flow and content of the survey.
Page Break
- Separates content into different pages.
- Improves readability and controls how questions are grouped.
Response Group
- Groups multiple question items together.
- Useful for displaying several related questions under a shared heading or context.
Info Item
- Displays additional information without asking for input.
- Can include text instructions, explanations, or visual content and supports the respondent with guidance or context before a question or section.
End of Survey Content
- Marks the end of the survey flow.
- Typically includes logic to stop collecting further responses and displays a closing message, thank-you note, or redirect.