Questionnaire Testing

Testing Checklist

Once you have designed your questionnaire, you will still need to test and review thoroughly. The following list details testing features and tools within QDS, as well as content that should be checked and reviewed during a thorough and systematic testing process:

• During development, frequently use Tools|Validate to identify programming errors or warnings.
• Use the Preview Tool to run sections of your questionnaire in a CAPI or ACASI emulator and examine data in real-time.
• Generate Skip-Edit Check Reports to review all Skip and Edit Element expressions.
• Build and review RTF and CSV Codebooks for variable names, variable labels, valid ranges, length (esp. for text items), Skip and Edit expressions, and identifier variables.
• Build and review a printable (.RTF) version of Questionnaire for question wording (Skip and Edit expressions can also be reviewed).
• Run a spell check in any word processing package of the .RTF version; remember to make corrections in Specifications File.
• Test the CAPI, ACASI, or Data Entry Control Files on your interview device(s). Send your Web SQL Control file to your QDS-Web representative for posting online for testing.
• Review test data in the Warehouse Manager after adding it to a Local Warehouse file.
• Test exporting data from the Warehouse Manager. Make sure that correct variables are being used for the unique identifiers, all Automatic Variables work as intended, and, appropriate Special Code values are being used.

Tip: If the question numbers in the Design Studio match the questionnaire you are comparing the control file to, this makes testing the control file much easier. You can set build options on the CAPI or ACASI Appearance tab or Web Operations tab to optionally include question numbering on interview screens.