What is a Virtual Question and how to set it up?

Main use:

Virtual Question is a question that is hidden from the real survey conversation. With this question type, we can create variables that combines different options from other questions. Those variables can eventually help with the survey logics and quota setting, etc. 

The variables in a Virtual Question are conceptually similar to the options in other Choice Based Questions. The variables in the virtual question will be TURE or auto-selected if the relevant conditions set for the variables are met. 

A few typical use cases - 

Termination Logics 

There are instances when we need to set up termination logics based on multiple questions. For example, we want to terminate people when they did NOT buy the product in the past year AND they do not plan to buy it in the next 6 months (these are two separate questions related to past and future purchases). In this case, we would create a Virtual Question and create a variable based on the two questions for past and future purchases. We then add this Virtual Question as a Custom Screener on the Audience page and set up the termination logics accordingly. Please see details here. 

Quota Setting 

There are circumstances when we need to allocate quotas over combined options and/or multiple questions. For instance, quotas based on Age x Gender where we require a quota of 100 each for females aged 18-35, females over 35, males aged 18-35, and males over 35. In this scenario, we would create a Virtual Question with 4 variables of 18-35 Female, 35+ Female, 18-35 Male, and 35+ Male. We will then add this Virtual Question as a Custom Screener on the Audience page to set up quotas accordingly. Please see details here.  

Answer Reference

Sometimes we want to show dynamic wording in the question based on the previous choices, but it's not a direct answer reference from the option wording, but something more complicated. For Example, we want to ask the participant to what extent they agree that the company offers special products and services for students [IF THEY ARE STUDENTS] / customers like me [IF THEY ARE NOT STUDENTS]. We have another question at the start asking if they are students or not. In this case, we would create a Virtual Question with 2 variables - the first writing "student" in the Display Text and defining the logics that they are students, the second writing "customers like me" in the Display Text and defining the logics that they are NOT students. After that, we Answer Reference this Virtual Question in the question wording "To what extent do you agree that the company offers special products and services for [Virtual Question]?". Please see details here. 

Other

There are situations when we need to categorize customers based on complex criteria, and then use that category as a pre-condition in many other questions. Instead of reapplying these complex logics each time, we can create a Virtual Question for customer categories. This Virtual Question can then be used in the logic setting for other questions. 

The above use cases are the typical ones, but there can be many more use cases. Just be CREATIVE:)

How to set up in the platform:

1. In the Questionnaire Builder page, add new question OR insert new question by hovering over an existing question and click the green (+) button (either above or below the existing question)

2. Select Virtual Question from the popup menu that appears.

3. Write your question number or label in the upper box.

4. Click Add New Variable

5. Write the name of the new variable in the Display Text field.

6. To start adding logic, select the SOURCE question (labeled in the box as IF SOMEONE ANSWERS TO) 

7. Then select the CONDITION you want to apply. The conditions vary per question type. (See further below for the different conditions).

8. To add more conditional logic to the same variable, click (+) Add Another Rule. 

• User can choose AND/OR LOGIC if applying multiple rules:
• Use AND - Both conditions are satisfied
• Use OR - Either one of the conditions must be satisfied
• (Note: if using multiple rules, different variations/scenarios could satisfy your variable)

Note: If using AND/OR on multiple rules, different variations/scenarios could satisfy your variable

For example:

TOP RATERS variable will show only when...

-  if RULE 3 is satisfied, even if RULE 1 AND RULE 2 are not satisfied

-  if RULE 3 is not satisfied, but both RULE 1 AND RULE 2 are satisfied

TOP RATERS variable will NOT show when...

- if Rule 3 is not satisfied, even if only one in RULE 1 AND RULE 2 is satisfied

9. The new variable is created once you confirm all your conditions and the status shows "All changes are saved" and the variable will show up as a new question in the Question Tree sidebar.

Please note: The system would include a "Not Applicable" variable/option in each Virtual Question, where "Not Applicable" indicates who does not fulfill the criteria set for any of the variables/options in that question.

CONDITIONS PER QUESTION TYPE

a. If the source question is a Single Choice and similar questions, then the default conditions are: 

Please note in the Tradeoff Ranking Question, INCLUDES and does not INCLUDE applies to the Top Choice only. For example, the user can set up a logic where a Tradeoff Ranking Question INCLUDES Idea 1 or Idea 2 in the Top Choice.

b. If the source question is an Multiple Choice and similar questions, then the conditions are

Please note in Rank Order Question:  User can specify a specific rank order after INCLUDES and does not INCLUDE the options. For example, user can set up a logic where a Rank Order Question INCLUDES Option 1 in the 1st rank. They can also set up a logic where a Rank Order Question INCLUDES Option 1 in ANY rank order.

c. If the source question is an Open-ended or Numeric mentions, then the applicable conditions are:

d. If the source question is System Metadata (includes Language, Self-provided Panel, and Device Type), then the conditions are

e. If the source question is URL Metadata (please see more details about URL Metadata here)

Please note that Piped options work the same as other options and can be included in the logic system.