statistic()

mixed statistic(string statistic, array|string variables, mixed option, [boolean alldata])

The function statistic() can determine specific univariate data from the data record (across all previous questionnaires).

• statistic
  Which statistic should be calculated?
  • 'count' – counts the frequency of the value specified as option.
  • 'percent' – percentage of the value specified as option.
  • 'crosscount' – counts the frequency of the joint occurrence of two values in two variables. The two variables should be specified as an array (or separated with a comma), as well as their values that are specified as option.
  • 'mode' – most commonly occurring value.
  • 'min' – lowest value.
  • 'max' – highest value.
  • 'mean' – arithmetic mean of the values.
• variables
  Determines which variable(s) the statistic should be calculated for. The IDs of the individual variables can be found in the Variables Overview. If the statistic requires multiple variables, these can be given as a comma-separated string or as an array.
• option
  Some statistics call for or allow a third entry which is set with this parameter (see below).
• alldata
  This entry is optional and determines that all questionnaires be entered into the statistics; not just those that have been completed.

Note: If true is not explicitly specified for the parameter alldata, only completed questionnaires are included when calculating the statistical values.

Note: Test data collected during the developing of the questionnaire and pretesting is only included if the current questionnaire is a part of the test as well. If the questionnaire is being carried out as part of the regular data collection, statistic() only counts data from the regular data collection.

When counting the frequency (count), a third argument can be specified: which value the frequency should be determined for. If a third value is not given, the number of valid responses is output. Missing data is not counted.

For example, in the questionnaire there is a question where the respondent selects their gender (1=female, 2=male, -9=no input). The number of women who entered the third value 1 can be determined like so:

$numberwomen = statistic('count', 'SD01', 1);  // frequency of women (1)
$numbermen = statistic('count', 'SD01', 2); // frequency of men (2)
$numbercompleted = statistic('count', 'SD01');    // number of valid data 
$numberall = statistic('count', 'SD01', false, true); // all data records
html('
  <p>So far,'.$numberall.' people
  specified their gender in this survey, but the questionnaire was
  only completed in '.$numbercompleted.' cases.</p>
  <p>The questionnaires completed are made up of '.
  $numberwomen.' women and '.
  $numbermen.' men.</p>
');
question('SD01');  // question about the respondent's gender

The 'crosscount' statistic counts the cases (like in cross-tabulations) in which multiple variables apply.

Instead of a single variable, two or more variables are specified as an array or separated with a comma (,). The values being counted for each variable are specified as the third parameter option. Only cases which have specified the first value for the first variable, the second value for the second variable and so on are counted.

$nYoungFemale = statistic('crosscount', 'SD01,SD02', '2,1');  // variables and values in a list with commas ...
$nGrownFemale = statistic('crosscount', array('SD01','SD02'), array(2,2));  // ... or in arrays
html('
  <p>So far, '.$nYoungFemale.' people have stated in this survey 
  that they are female and in age group 1 (up to 18 years old).
  '.$nGrownFemale.' women stated they were older than 19 years old.</p>
');
question('SD01');  // question about the respondent's gender
question('SD02');  // question about the respondent's age

The output is the percentage of a value within all valid data. The value to be counted must be given as the third argument.

$numberwomen = statistic('percent', 'SD01', 1); // percentage of women
html('
  <p>So far, '.
  $numberwomen.' women have taken part in this survey.</p>
');
question('SD01');  // question about the respondent's gender

This returns the value that has been selected most frequently so far. If multiple values have been selected equally often then these are returned separated by a comma.

As a third argument (in this instance a Boolean), it is possible to specify if invalid values (no answer etc.) should also be counted.

$mode = statistic('mode', 'AB01_02', true);
$modes = explode(',', $mode);  // separate multiple values
if (count($modes) > 1) {
  // multiple values stated most frequently
  html('
    <p>Multiple answers were selected equally often.</p>
 ');
} else {
  // answer options text (statistic() only provides the numeric code)
  $text = getValuetext('AB01_02', $mode);
  html('
    <p>The most common answer for this question was: '.$text.'.</p>
  ');
}

The statistics 'min', 'mean' und 'max' only calculate a correct value if numerical values exist for the question. Data in a text input is ignored if it is not a number – unless is it is specified that invalid values should also be entered into the statistics (true) as the third parameter.

If no valid values are available, 0 is returned as the 'mean, and the value false as the min and max.

$min = statistic('min', 'BB01_03');
$max = statistic('max', 'BB01_03');
$mean = statistic('mean', 'BB01_03');
html('
  <p>The participant has given the programme
  an average rating of '.$mean.' so far.</p>
  <p>The ratings lie between '.$min.' und '.$max.'.</p>
');