In-depth analysis can get really ugly if you aren't careful – especially when the values you entered don't look like the ones in the data file. Qualtrics has an easy way to solve this problem.

Some of the most commonly used question types are Multiple Choice and Matrix Table. Each option gets its own value so multiple options lead to multiple values. These values are assigned when an option is created; however, survey creators don't always keep answer options in the order that they were originally entered. Perhaps you want to build a survey concerning different positions in a company. You type in: (with the values analytical software will use in parenthesis)

(1) Janitor
(2) CEO
(3) HR specialist
(4) Sales representative

Later, you realize that you want to reorder and analyze these positions according to earnings. Clicking the blue arrow on the right side of the option allows you to move these up and down until you have reordered them the way you like. Remember, the order in which you first put them is the order they were given values for analysis. Here is what it would look like if you reorder it according to earnings: (with the analytical values still in parenthesis)

(2) CEO
(4) Sales representative
(3) HR specialist
(1) Janitor

To prevent these values from carrying over to the data files, the values can be recoded.

Recoding values is simple. Just click on the purple gear box on the left side of the question and scroll over the options until you find “recode values.” A box will pop up and enable you to change the values. For example:

(1) CEO
(2) Sales representative
(3) HR specialist
(4) Janitor

This will prevent frustration when viewing the data file after the data has been collected. As always, if you have any questions about this process or any other aspect of Qualtrics, feel welcome to contact our support team who will be happy to help you.