A drop-down question type allows the participant to select an answer from a set of pre-defined answer choices.
When a drop-down list is inactive, it displays a single answer choice. When activated, it displays (drops down) a list of answer choices, from which the participant may select one. When he/she selects a new answer choice, the drop-down list reverts to its inactive state, displaying the selected answer choice. Its design is compact and easy to use.
Note: You cannot include a semi-open answer option like ‘Other: __’ in a drop-down question.
A hint text can be specified for any drop-down question. When you check the box next to Hint text, an input box will be displayed allowing you to give a detailed explanation to the participants as regards the purpose of the question. The hint text is not included in reports.
A participant is required to select an answer from the answer choices, once the box next to Force response (mandatory question) has been checked. If he/she omits to answer the corresponding question, the message ‘Please answer this question before you continue’ will be presented on the screen.
The Prompt option sets the wording of the initial text in the drop-down question. The default text is: “Please choose…”.
Answer choices
Here you define all answer choices (one per line) for the corresponding question, e.g. ‘City bus’, ‘Trolleybus’. By default, you can enter 4 answer choices for one question. In order to add an additional answer choice, you have to click the Add answer choice button. To remove one or more redundant answer choices, you can click the x sign after the corresponding options.
All answer choices have a unique numerical value; this value is incremented by 1 for each answer choice. The first answer choice has the value 1, the second the value 2, and so on. If these values for a particular question are not unique, this will undoubtedly result in an error message. In order to edit the numerical value of an answer choice, you must click the ellipsis sign (3 vertical dots) after the corresponding choice.
You can change the chronological order of the various answer choices using the cell sign in front of the appropriate answer choice. In order to change its position, you have to select the cell sign and drag the corresponding answer choice to its desired position while holding down the left mouse button. As soon as you release the left mouse button, the corresponding answer option will be dropped to its new position.