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Battery of items

A battery of items allows you to create multiple related questions that share the same answer scale. This is ideal for rating multiple products, statements, or concepts using consistent criteria, making data collection more efficient and analysis more straightforward.

Creating a battery of items​

To create a battery of items, select this question type from the question menu. You can configure various display layouts and answer options to suit your research needs.

Basic configuration​

Display text​

Add text that will be visible for all items in the battery. This provides context and instructions that apply to the entire set of questions.

Consistent context

This shared text ensures all respondents receive the same instructions across all items in the battery.

Layout options​

You have 3 choices for item layout presentation:

In carousel mode, respondents answer items one after the other in sequence. This focuses attention on one item at a time.

User experience benefits
  • Reduces cognitive load by showing one item at a time
  • Works well on mobile devices
  • Allows for item-specific images and instructions

Row layout​

Row layout presents items and answers in a table format with items as rows. This allows respondents to see all items simultaneously.

Column layout​

Column layout presents items and answers in a table format with items as columns. This provides an alternative table view for different use cases.

Table layouts

Row and column layouts correspond to traditional table formats, making them familiar to most respondents.

Display modes​

Battery of items supports multiple display modes for presenting answer options to respondents:

Classic mode​

Standard selection interface with radio buttons (single choice) or checkboxes (multiple choice).

CATA mode (check all that apply)​

Allows respondents to select multiple options from each item, with support for column organization.

Collect appearance​

Slider mode​

Interactive slider controls for each item, ideal for rating scales and continuous measurements.

Stepper mode​

Increment/decrement controls for numeric responses, useful for quantity or ranking questions.

Stars mode​

Star rating interface for each item, perfect for satisfaction or quality evaluations.

This or that mode​

Binary choice presentation forcing respondents to choose between two options for each item.

Collect appearance​

Drag & drop mode​

Interactive drag-and-drop interface allowing respondents to organize or rank items by moving them between areas.

Collect appearance​

Mode selection

Choose the display mode that best matches your research objectives and the type of data you want to collect for each item.

Answer configuration​

Single or multiple answers​

Choose whether respondents can select:

  • Single answer: One response per item (radio buttons)
  • Multiple answers: Multiple responses per item (checkboxes)
Research design

Single answers work well for rating scales, while multiple answers are useful for "select all that apply" scenarios.

Randomization options​

Shuffle items​

Enable item shuffling to present items in random order, reducing order bias in responses.

Shuffle answers​

Enable answer shuffling to present answer options in random order, further reducing potential bias.

Maintain consistency

When using shuffling, ensure that any logical order in your scales (like 1-5 rating scales) is preserved.

Progress indicator​

In carousel mode, you can display a progress indicator to show respondents how many items they've completed and how many remain.

User engagement

Progress indicators help maintain respondent engagement by showing clear advancement through the battery.

Instructions before each answer​

Add specific instructions that appear before each item in carousel mode, allowing for item-specific guidance.

Flexibility

This feature enables you to provide tailored instructions for different items within the same battery.

Item and answer management​

Managing items and answers​

Items and answers are presented using the same management interface, providing consistency in your workflow.

Generator functionality​

Use the answer/item generator to quickly create:

  • Standard item sets
  • Common answer scales
  • Numerical ranges
Time saver

The generator enables input of multiple items or answers in one operation, significantly speeding up battery creation.

Organization tools​

You can:

  • Move items and answers up and down to reorder them
  • Edit individual items and answers
  • Delete unwanted items and answers

Advanced options​

Shared functionality

Battery of items includes the same advanced options available in closed questions, including:

  • Answer parameter editing
  • Quota management
  • Automatic reclassification
  • Conditional logic
  • Screen-out options

Refer to the Closed question documentation for detailed information about these advanced configuration options.