VULab Survey Question Types

[electBlake]

Hello All,

Blake here from Toronto/VULab WEB, and if you haven't herd - we are  
making the switch to a proper php framework (EXCITING!). We are  
looking at CodeIgniter.com and CakePHP.org, but that isn't why I'm  
calling on you this morning.

Due to the dramatic (positive) change that a framework will bring to  
VULab, we will be re-engineering the survey design tool/process  
(nearly) from the ground up!
I want to start by isolating the types of questions we want to offer  
as well as isolating the importance of each. Once we have a list of  
question types we can agree on, we can develop them into VULab working  
down the list from most important to optional questions. You should  
consider what type of information you'd want to gather if you were  
conducting a usability test.

VULab currently uses the phpESP survey design tool so I'll outline  
what is included there and then I'll give me opinion on types/ 
priorities.

One thing that should be noted is that a question "type" can span  
different "implementations". For example, a Boolean type of question  
could be implemented as a True or False, or a Yes or No, or even an  
Apples or Oranges. I'll distinguish between the types of questions and  
the implementations below.


phpESP Current Question Types:

Boolean Question Type
This is a question type whose answers could resolve into a 1 or 0.
Implementations:
Yes/No
Text Input Question Type
This is a question type whose answers are stored as text.
Implementations:
Text Box
Essay Box
Numeric
Single Option Question Type
This is a question type whose answer is chosen from a list and is  
specific to one option.
Implementations:
Radio Buttons
Dropdown Box
Multiple Select Question Type
This is a question type whose answer can be 1 or more options from a  
given list.
Implementations:
Check Boxes
Date Question Type
This is a question type whose answer is a specific date.
Implementations:
Date
Rating Question Type
This is a question type whose answer is a number within a selected  
scale.
Implementations:
Rank.


As I see it, we can consolidate a few of these and prioritize them as  
follows for VULab
Note: Single/Multiple types have been combined.

Boolean Question Type
This is a question type whose answers could resolve into a 1 or 0.
Implementations:
Yes/No
Text Input Question Type
This is a question type whose answers are stored as text.
Implementations:
Text Line Box
Multi Line Box
Numeric
Multiple Option Question Type
This is a question type whose answer can be 1 or more options from a  
given list.
Implementations:
Check Boxes
Radio Buttons
Dropdown Box
Rating Question Type
This is a question type whose answer is a number within a selected  
scale.
Implementations:
Rank/Scale (Definable Start/Finish)
Date Question Type
This is a question type whose answer is a specific date.
Implementations:
Date


Are there any other question types that we should consider? Is this an  
appropriate prioritizing? ANY input is much appreciated.

Thanks!
Blake
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://lists.idrc.ocad.ca/pipermail/fluid-work/attachments/20081209/a58bf1cf/attachment.htm>