Semi-open questions

In askiadesign, there are three ways to create semi-open questions:

1. Use the semi-open responses option on a closed question. This is best used if the interviewing mode is CATI, and the question is a brand list.
2. Add an open-ended question, and use routing to control when it is shown. This should be used in all other situations.
3. Alternatively, you can use the Statement Other ADC 2.0 control in screen mode. For details, see the Knowledge Base article Statement Other.

This topic is concerned with the first two methods.

• How to use the "semi-open responses" method
• How to use the open-ended question method
• Advantages and disadvantages of the two methods

Using the "semi-open response" method

This method should be used if the question is a brand list, and the interviewing mode is CATI. In other situations, you should use the "open ended question" method. See advantages and disadvantages of the two methods.

To set the semi-open responses option:

1. Ensure you are working in question mode.
2. In the left-hand pane, select the question. Its details appear in the right-hand pane.
3. In the right-hand pane, select semi-open responses.
4. If you wish, you can select the option semi-open mandatory. This means that if the respondent selects the "other (specify)" response, they must then provide an open-text answer.

Using the open-ended method

To create an “other (specify)” answer using an open-ended question:

1. Ensure you are working in question mode.
2. Create a closed question, and add a response with the text other (specify).
3. Now create a new question, and set its type to open.
4. In the question list, ensure the open question is positioned immediately after the associated closed question. To position the two questions, use the arrows above the list, or simply drag and drop the questions.
5. In routing mode, create a new routing instruction with the following properties:
   • Start question: your closed question
   • Execute: during, after and even when skipped
   • None
   • In the response list, select other (specify)
   • Action: Do not ask
   • Target question: the open-ended question
6. In screen mode, merge the screens of the closed question and open-ended question.

Advantages and disadvantages of the two methods

Overall, as you can see from the table below, open-ended questions have fewer constraints than semi-open responses. Semi-open questions are useful in CATI surveys, where a list of answers needs to be updated directly by fieldwork supervisors to provide additional codes for interviewers to select from; in all other cases, a full open-ended question is likely to be more useful and will be easier to manage.