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--- en:survey:hot-change [11.12.2014 21:36] – alexander.ritter
+++ en:survey:hot-change [15.09.2021 22:53] (current) – [Delet Questions, Items and Response Options] stefan.kreissl
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-====== Changes During Data Collection ======
+====== Change the Questionnaire During the Survey ======
 In an ideal world, a questionnaire is created, tested and then the survey can begin. Nevertheless, subsequent changes to the questionnaire cannot always be avoided completely -- whether it be correcting a spelling mistake, or an important answer or answer option is missing.
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 ===== Changes in the Text =====
-Normally, changing the text (in particular, correcting spelling mistakes) is not a problem. It does not matter whether changes are made to the question title, item text or text elements: there is no change to the variable structure as a result.
+Normally, changing the text (in particular, correcting spelling mistakes) is not a problem. It does not matter whether changes are made to the question title, item text or text elements: there is no change to the variable structure as a result. Subject to the notes/warnings below, the following changes, for example, are unproblematic:
+  * Changing the label of an item or an option
+  * Changing texts of a question -- however, a possibly active [:en:glossary#compatibility-representation|Compatibility representation]] is deactivated for a question with saving, so check the display in the preview after saving.
+  * Changing text modules or texts
 Usually, the survey is not interrupted. After saving the change, the participant sees the amended version.
@@ Line 19: / Line 23: @@
 ===== Changes to the Questionnaire =====
-**Problem 1:** When changing the questionnaire itself -- changing the order of questions or pages, inserting or removing questions, changing the presentation of the question ({{:button.settings.png?nolink|settings}}) -- all changes are saved immediately. This is also true when changes are made to PHP code elements: these are saved while typing, and in some cases do not work until changes are finished.
+After the start of the survey period, SoSci Survey partially locks the editing of the questionnaire under **Compose questionnaire** to prevent unintentional changes. Then no pages, questions and PHP codes can be moved, inserted or deleted in the questionnaire. Editing PHP and HTML codes is still possible (accidental changes are very unlikely here).
-**Problem 2:** If you insert new pages or shuffle pages around, then the allocation of the page number to the  recorded dwell time (TIME001 etc., [[:en:results:variables#antwortzeiten|Response Times]]) is no longer correct. If a page is given the number 2 initially, and (because another page was inserted before it), is then number 3 after the change, the dwell time is saved in TIME003. However, the old dwell time still remains in TIME002.
+To unlock, click on the lock in the upper right corner.
+{{:de:survey:scr.hot-change.questionnaire.png?nolink|Gesperrter Fragebogen während der Erhebung}}
+**Warning:** When changing the questionnaire itself -- changes to the order of questions or pages, dragging questions in or out, changing the question display ({{:button.settings.png?nolink|settings}}) -- all changes are saved immediately. This also refers to changes made to PHP code elements: These are saved while you are still typing and may not work until you are done making changes.
+**Warning:** If you insert new pages or move pages, the assignment of page numbers to recorded dwell times (TIME001 etc., [[:en:results:variables#completion_times|response times]]) is no longer correct. If a page initially has the number 2 and (because another page is inserted before) after the change the number 3, then the dwell time is stored in TIME003. However, the old dwell times are still in TIME002.
 If there are more significant changes to be made in the questionnaire (especially to the PHP code), making a copy of the questionnaire beforehand is recommended (**Compose Questionnaire** -> tab //Further questionnaires// -> duplicate button {{:button.copy.gif?nolink|Duplicate Questionnaire}}). Afterwards, ensure that the questionnaire used up to this point is set as default in //Default Questionnaire / Random selection for questionnaires//.
@@ Line 34: / Line 44: @@
-===== Do Not Delete Anything in the List of Questions =====
+===== Delete Questions, Items and Response Options =====
-There are some changes that should, __under no circumstances__, be carried out after data collection has begun:
+After starting the survey, SoSci Survey blocks deleting items/response options for the following reason: If you delete an item, then the data collected for it can also no longer be viewed/retrieved in the data set. The data previously collected for the item can therefore no longer be used.
-  * Deleting a question from the List of Questions\\ Along with the question, all variables belonging to it will also be deleted. Data collected with the question up to this point is therefore no longer traceable and can no longer be assigned.
+You can hide an item or a response option by placing a tilde (''~'') in front of the item text. So, for example, change the "less than 100 €" option to "~less than 100 €" so that this option is hidden.
-  * Deleting items from the List of Questions\\ The same goes for items: if an item is deleted, the data collected for this item up to this point is no longer stored in the data record. Instead of deleting an item, hide it by putting a tilde (''~'') before the item text.
-  * Deleting answer options\\ Depending on whether it concerns a multiple-choice selection or a simple selection, the variables or the coding for the deleted forms are no longer there once deleted. Just as for items, answer options can also be hidden by putting a tilde (''~'') in front of them.
+  * Do not delete any questions from the questionnaire, just remove them from the questionnaire under **Compose questionnaire**.
+  * Do not delete items or answer options, but hide them with a preceding tilde (''~'') in the //item text//.
 **Note:** If a question or an item is deleted, it is no use creating a new question or item with the  same ID and/or same content. The new question or item with the same ID also saves data independently of the old element.
@@ Line 52: / Line 63: @@
 **Solution:** Make a copy of the question. You can carry out all the changes necessary in the copy (pay attention to the question ID!) Afterwards, swap the question in the **List of Questions** (see above).
+===== Extensive Changes =====
+If you want to make extensive changes to a questionnaire (e.g. for a new survey), please create a [[:en:general:copy-project|copy of the survey project]] and make changes in the copy.
+This will keep the old record valid and you can change the contents in the copy as you wish.