Topic: Survey setup
A rating question (matrix question) is a question type in which multiple statements, criteria, or characteristics are evaluated simultaneously using the same rating scale.
The individual criteria are displayed in rows, while the rating levels — for example, “very good” to “very poor” or “agree” to “disagree” — are displayed as columns.
This allows participants to evaluate multiple aspects in a clear and structured manner by selecting the appropriate answer for each row.
This question format is particularly well-suited for making multiple indicators, performance metrics, or characteristics comparable within a uniform scale.
Settings and options of the Matrix:
Column: Response Option
Optionally, you can show or hide the first column containing the text for each row.
Column: Number of Rating Levels
Here you can specify how many rating levels there should be for the evaluation.
Column: “No Response”
Optionally, you can show or hide the last column, “No Answer.”
Answer Condition: Number of Lines
With this option, you can specify the maximum, minimum, or exact number of lines the participant may or must answer.
Multiple Answers Per Line Allowed
With this option, you can turn the rating question into a matrix question. This allows the participant to provide multiple answers per row.
Answer restriction per row (“must select at least / may select at most / must select exactly” X answers)
This option allows you to specify the maximum, minimum, or exact number of answers a participant may select per row. This feature is only available if “Multiple answers per row allowed” is enabled.
Required question
This allows you to mark the question as required. The respondent must answer this question before proceeding to the next page of the survey.
Help Icon (Tooltip)
This option allows you to display help text or additional information via a help icon next to the question title.
Randomize
If you enable this option, the answer choices — but not the rating scales — will be displayed in random order to each respondent.
Additional text field below the question
This option allows you to provide a text field (e.g., for comments) for the respondent directly below the question. The width and line height of the text field can be freely defined.
“No Answer” Option
This option is particularly useful if you have defined the question as a required question. It allows the participant to continue even if they do not wish to provide a substantive answer.
Internal value
The “Internal Value” feature allows you to replace participants' responses in the export (Excel, CSV, or SPSS) with custom values. This makes it easier to process the data later.
An example:
The following rating levels are available for participants:
very satisfied | satisfied | 50/50 | dissatisfied | very dissatisfied
Since these values are often difficult to process in Excel or SPSS, you can assign internal values to the rating levels:
The numbers will then appear in the export instead of the rating levels.
Internal values can be assigned at any time — either directly when creating the question or later, to optimize the data for export.
Upload Image
You can place an image directly within the question.
Advantage: The image can be displayed between the question and the answer options, in addition to the standard image upload in the questionnaire.
Additionally, you can adjust the image’s orientation, set its position (above or below the question title), and assign an ALT attribute, which is important for survey accessibility.
Select Specific Respondents (Filter/Jump) – currently unavailable
This option allows you to guide specific respondents through the survey.
This feature becomes available only after you create the question.
Save the question and then hover your mouse pointer over it — the “Filter” button will then appear.
Rating Question / Matrix
A rating question (matrix question) is a question type in which multiple statements, criteria, or characteristics are evaluated simultaneously using the same rating scale.
The individual criteria are displayed in rows, while the rating levels — for example, “very good” to “very poor” or “agree” to “disagree” — are displayed as columns.
This allows participants to evaluate multiple aspects in a clear and structured manner by selecting the appropriate answer for each row.
This question format is particularly well-suited for making multiple indicators, performance metrics, or characteristics comparable within a uniform scale.
Settings and options of the Matrix:
Column: Response Option
Optionally, you can show or hide the first column containing the text for each row.
Column: Number of Rating Levels
Here you can specify how many rating levels there should be for the evaluation.
Column: “No Response”
Optionally, you can show or hide the last column, “No Answer.”
Answer Condition: Number of Lines
With this option, you can specify the maximum, minimum, or exact number of lines the participant may or must answer.
Multiple Answers Per Line Allowed
With this option, you can turn the rating question into a matrix question. This allows the participant to provide multiple answers per row.
Answer restriction per row (“must select at least / may select at most / must select exactly” X answers)
This option allows you to specify the maximum, minimum, or exact number of answers a participant may select per row. This feature is only available if “Multiple answers per row allowed” is enabled.
Required question
This allows you to mark the question as required. The respondent must answer this question before proceeding to the next page of the survey.
Help Icon (Tooltip)
This option allows you to display help text or additional information via a help icon next to the question title.
Randomize
If you enable this option, the answer choices — but not the rating scales — will be displayed in random order to each respondent.
Additional text field below the question
This option allows you to provide a text field (e.g., for comments) for the respondent directly below the question. The width and line height of the text field can be freely defined.
“No Answer” Option
This option is particularly useful if you have defined the question as a required question. It allows the participant to continue even if they do not wish to provide a substantive answer.
Internal value
The “Internal Value” feature allows you to replace participants' responses in the export (Excel, CSV, or SPSS) with custom values. This makes it easier to process the data later.
An example:
The following rating levels are available for participants:
very satisfied | satisfied | 50/50 | dissatisfied | very dissatisfied
Since these values are often difficult to process in Excel or SPSS, you can assign internal values to the rating levels:
- very satisfied = 1
- satisfied = 2
- 50/50 = 3
- dissatisfied = 4
- very dissatisfied = 5
The numbers will then appear in the export instead of the rating levels.
Internal values can be assigned at any time — either directly when creating the question or later, to optimize the data for export.
Upload Image
You can place an image directly within the question.
Advantage: The image can be displayed between the question and the answer options, in addition to the standard image upload in the questionnaire.
Additionally, you can adjust the image’s orientation, set its position (above or below the question title), and assign an ALT attribute, which is important for survey accessibility.
Select Specific Respondents (Filter/Jump) – currently unavailable
This option allows you to guide specific respondents through the survey.
This feature becomes available only after you create the question.
Save the question and then hover your mouse pointer over it — the “Filter” button will then appear.