Skip-Edit Check Reports

One way to check that Skip and Edit Elements are performing as expected is to test them within the data collection modules, such as in CAPI or ACASI; however, it can often be more efficient to test multiple conditions for complex Edit or Skip expressions using Skip-Edit Check Reports. These reports indicate the outcome of each Skip and/or Edit Element, based on test values assigned to Data Elements in the specifications file.

Options for the Skip-Edit Check Report can be set under Options|Build or by selecting the Options button on the dialog box that opens when you select Build|Skip-Edit Check Report. Test options include selecting test interview method and interview date, choosing just a single Skip or Edit Element or a highlighted section to include in the report, including Item ID of the single Skip or Edit element in the report filename, and choosing to ignore Skip or Edit instructions that precede test element or section.

The test values used in the report can be set globally through the Data Defaults, Test tab or individually through the Data Element, Test tab.

Setting Test Values Globally

  1. Go to Options|Data Defaults, Test tab.
  2. Select response type from the Response Type list box.
  3. Select the test mode response from the drop down box (first item in the drop down list is the system default).
  4. Continue to assign test settings for additional response types.
  5. Select OK.

Options|Data Defaults, Test tab

Test mode settings, along with all other Data Defaults settings, can be saved to a User Options file for later use (e.g., with a different Design Studio file or to restore these settings for the same file at a later date). To create a Users Option file, select Options|Save to User Options.

The new defaults will automatically be used for elements added to the specifications file after updating defaults. Existing specifications—i.e., those added to the file before updating testing defaults—will retain the system testing defaults unless or until manually updated or updated via Tools|Global Changes, Test Options. Once the global change is applied, test values for existing Data Elements will be reset to the value specified on the Data Defaults Test tab. If a setting does not comply with the options set for a specific element, no change will take effect. For example, if the default setting for a Nominal - Pick One response is Don’t Know and an element doesn’t allow this type of response, no change will be made to the element’s test settings.

Setting Individual Data Element Test Values

Test values can be assigned individually through the Data Element, Test tab. Test value options are identical to the values available on the Data Defaults Test tab, with the addition of a Specify option (with the exception of Yes/No and Gender which do not include a Specify option). If Special Codes are not allowed on the Response Set tab, they will not be listed in the Set response to: dropdown box. When the test mode is set to an option other than Specify or a Special Code, the Specified value box will display the value to be used for testing in a disabled box:

 Data Element, Test tab "In test mode, set response to:" and "Specified value" box

Options for setting specific test mode responses vary by response type. See Data Element, Test tab for more details.