Creating Ranking-Type Survey Questions

[kfranker]

We have been experimenting with how to create ranking-type survey questions where survey respondents can rank-order their responses.

We figured out how to set this up with a matrix type of question with the column option set to "answer in this column must be unique". However, when the user selects a non-unique answer (such as selecting two different items in the 1 column), they don't get an error message until they click on Submit and the error message isn't specific about the nature of the problem.

If possible, we would like to see a more immediate and more helpful error feedback message in future versions of Checkbox so that when a user chooses a non-unique answer in a matrix question it is clear how to correct the error. Also, if there's a better way to create ranking-type questions than using the matrix style, we'd be glad to hear about it.

[pwiesner]

This is a request we have received before. I will update the developer tracker item to indicate that you have expressed an interest in this functionality.

Answers are collected after selecting the back/next/finish buttons and it is at this point that question validation occurs. It is for this reason that an error message is not displayed until you attempt to navigate to the next page.

By default the validation message reads "Each answer in this column must be unique." If you would like to change this text you can do so by navigating to "Settings" -> "Languages, Validation Messages, and Misc. Text". Select the "Validation Messages" tab and edit the text of the "Column Answers Must Be Unique" option.

[kfranker]

Thanks for the quick response to my question. It is good to know that others have expressed an interest in the same issue.
I appreciate knowing about how to change the validation text by going to Settings. It appears that is something that only a System Administrator role can do, correct?

[pwiesner]

You are correct, only System Administrators have access to the Settings page. In the case of the "Languages, Validation Messages, and Misc. Text" page access is restricted because changes made there are site wide.

[steveblevins]

We have the same problem. If you set 'each answer must be unique' the user gets stuck if they choose more than 1 in a column since you cannot deselect the radio buttons once chosen. It would be nice to have a no opinion column that doesn't generate the error. So now we have a 'no opinion' column that is by default selected, and we set 'unique' to false. However, this lets someone choose more than 1 best out of the range of answers. Is there a better way?
Our survey is available to the public at [REDACTED]
For example

Rank your choices
No opinion Best OK Worst
beer x
wine x
water x
swill x

[steveblevins]

We have the same problem on this survey [REDACTED]

We tried setting 'each column must be unique' but users get trapped since once you select a radio button you cannot de-select it.

The best alternative we found was to not have each column unique, and give a column in the rating scale which is 'no opinion'. However, this allows users to choose more than 1 first choice since it doesn't check from row to row.

For example

Choose your top 3

No opinion #1 #2 #3
water x
beer x
wine x
swill x

works, but someone can choose everything as # 1.

Is there a better way to do these ratings?