In askiadesign, linked response items enable you to re-use the response list from one variable (known as the source variable) in another variable (known as a linked variable). This option:

• saves you time when creating a questionnaire (because you do not need to re-enter the same response list multiple times),
• ensures your response lists are consistent across questions (and when the responses in the source variable is updated, they are automatically updated in all linked variables),
• and reduces the size of the *.QES file.

In this topic:

• Notes on using linked response items
• Link types
• How to use linked response items

Notes on using linked response items

When you use linked response lists, you can still add non-linked items to the new variable (e.g. a None of these response). For example, suppose the variable Awareness contains a brand list. You set up a link in the variable Favourite so that it includes all the items in Awareness. You then add the item None of these to Awareness.

Click to view example

Link types

Several types of link are available:

• None: No items will be linked to this variable (in other words, no linking will occur; selecting this removes any link that has previously been set up).
• All responses: This variable will display all the items of the source variable.
• All selected responses: This variable will only display the items which were selected by the respondent in the source variable.
• All non-selected responses: This variable will only display the items which were not selected by the respondent in the Source variable.
• Selected responses in all linked questions: This variable will only display the items which were successively selected by the respondent in the two or more linked variables, like a final recap of all given answers.
• Always include exclusive responses: If you select this option (which can be selected in conjunction with any of the above link types), then any exclusive responses in the source variable will always be displayed, even if they were not selected by the respondent. For example, if your source variable includes an exclusive "none of these" response, it will be displayed when the current variable is presented to the respondent, even if he or she did not select it in the source variable.

How to use linked response items

Askiadesign makes it very easy to link the response list in one question to the response list in an earlier question.

To set up a linked response list:

1. When editing the question in which you want to include the earlier response list, click link (inactive). The link properties dialog opens:
   
2. Select the appropriate link type.
3. In source link question, select the appropriate source variable (the variable whose response list you want to include in this question). The right-hand pane shows you a preview of the response list that will be included if you choose the selected variable.
4. Click OK.