Use this feature to change the order of a variable's response items. To access this feature, when defining a closed question in Askiadesign, click rotation (inactive)....

The following options are available:

• Never change the order of responses: The list order will be used (as seen on the question definition screen). In other words, no rotation will be carried out.
• Randomise the order of responses: The order of the items will be randomly sorted for each respondent, that is, let’s say the variable has three items: A, B and C. During data-entry, the variable’s items will be displayed to the respondent in any one of the following orders:

  ABC ~ ACB ~ BAC ~ BCA ~ CAB ~ CBA. x being the number of items, the number of different orders is: x².

• Rotate the order of responses: The order in which the items are displayed will rotate for each successive respondent, that is, let’s say the variable has three items: A, B and C. Interviews will display the items in the following orders, and in a cyclical pattern. Intvw1: ABC ~ Intvw2: BCA ~ Intvw3: CAB ~ Intvw4: ABC ~ Invw5: BCA ~ etc-. x being the number of items, the number of different orders is: x.

• Invert order: The order of the items will be reversed. For example, if the variable has three items: A, B and C, during data collection, the items will be displayed in the following order: C B A. Note: the option use seed option must be selected for this option to take effect.

• Alphabetical: When response items are sorted in alphabetical order (using the list box style in screen mode), this option ensures that special responses such as don't know are kept at the end of the list.

• Randomisation: 

  • Different for every question (in design online, set nothing (empty) in the Rotation seed to have this behaviour)

  • Reused for question with same number of responses (in design online, set -2 in the Rotation seed to have this behaviour)

  • Defined by seed: The list of items, which is the source of a link, will be rotated successively in the linked parts of the questionnaire according to its source's rotation. (in design online, set a positive value in the Rotation seed to have this behaviour)