Creating a Multiple Response survey item
A Multiple Response survey item offers candidates a fixed set of answers to a prompt. Candidates may choose multiple answer options as their response. Multiple Response survey items are non-scored.
This article explains how to create a basic Multiple Response survey item in Surpass and includes details on how to add answer boxes in HTML subjects.
In This Article
1. Choose your item type
In your subject, select Create New Item to open the Survey Items menu. Choose Multiple Response to create a blank Multiple Response survey item and go to the Edit screen.
2. Name your item
Enter the item’s name in the Name field.
3. Enter your question text
Enter your question text in the question stem. Select Add Text Area to add an additional question stem. You can have a maximum of five question stems per item.
In a Mixed subject, open Additional Options to add assistive media.
4. Add your answer options
Enter your answer options in the answer fields. Multiple Response survey items default to three answer options. Select Add Answer Option to add an additional answer option. You can have a maximum of 30 answer options per Multiple Response survey item. Select Delete to remove an answer option. Multiple Response survey items must have a minimum of three answer options.
Adding an exclusive answer option
You can add an exclusive answer option that candidates cannot select in combination with any other answer options.
Select Additional Options to open the Options menu.
Select Exclusive Option to add an exclusive answer option.
Enter your exclusive answer option in the Exclusive Option field.
Re-ordering answer options
By default, Surpass presents Multiple Response survey answer options to candidates in the same order as the Edit screen. However, you can order them alphabetically. You can also manually re-order your answer options on an option-by-option basis.
Setting the number of candidate selections (HTML tests only)
For Multiple Response survey items delivered in the HTML test driver, you can set the minimum number of responses a candidate must make before the item is considered attempted.
Open the Additional Options menu and select Set Minimum Item Responses to enable an entry field where you can define the minimum number of selections.
Select Use Counter to allow candidates to see how many selections they have made.
Using answer layout options
Multiple Response survey answer options can be presented in either one or two columns. In a two column layout, you can combine text, image, and/or equation content in a single answer option.
Select Additional Options to open the Layout options menu. Select Two columns to enable a double column layout and choose an appropriate Layout from the following options:
| Icon | Setting | Description |
|---|---|---|
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Equal column widths | Both columns have the same width. |
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Left Column 20% Right Column 80% | The right column is wider than the left column. |
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Left Column 80% Right Column 20% | The left column is wider than the right column. |
Each answer option now has two columns, with any prior content in the left column. You can use the formatting toolbar to change either column’s content type (for example, to add an image).
Setting answer options as a table (HTML subjects only)
You can set HTML-subject Multiple Response survey answer options to be a table. This lets candidates choose their response from a predefined set of related answer options.
Go to Additional Options > Layout Options > Answer options as a table to create a blank answer table. Enter your groups of answer options in each row.
You can use the formatting toolbar to change the appearance of your cell’s contents. Use the following settings to edit the table itself:
| Icon | Setting | Description |
|---|---|---|
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Add Column Right | Adds a new column to the right of the selected cell. |
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Delete Column | Removes the column the selected cell is in. |
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Add Row Below | Adds a new row below the selected cell. |
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Delete Row | Removes the row the selected cell is in. |
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Add Header Row | Adds a pre-formatted header row to the table. |
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Delete Header Row | Removes the selected header row. |
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Merge Cells | Combines the selected cells. You must have more than one cell selected. |
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Split Cells | Divides the selected cell into two cells. |
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Make Column Widths Equal | Makes all columns even in length. |
Enabling answer boxes (HTML subjects only)
In HTML-subject Multiple Response survey items, you can add a text field to one answer option. Use this if you want candidates to explain why they have chosen a particular answer.
Open Additional Options and select Enable Answer Box. Give your answer box a title under Add label to answer box. Select Delete to remove all text in the answer box. This label is visible to candidates in delivery.
Select the relevant Answer Box radio button to add the answer box to an answer option.
5. Select a workflow status
Set the item’s workflow status in the Status drop-down menu. Only items set to Live can be used in a test.
6. Preview your question
To see your item from a candidate’s perspective, select Preview .
In Mixed subjects, you can preview your item in the HTML test driver. Use the Preview arrow to open the Preview Options menu and select Preview in HTML . Any custom CSS is applied in the Preview screen. For more information on custom CSS, read ‘About Subject settings’ in About Site Settings options.
If you need to continue working on the item, select Edit to return to the Edit screen.
7. Saving and closing your item
Select Save to save your item to your subject.
To see additional saving options, use the Save arrow to open the Save Options menu. Select Save & Close to save the item and return to the Subjects screen. Select Save & New to save the item and create another Multiple Response survey item.
Select Close to leave the Edit screen. If you have unsaved changes, you are prompted to either save or discard them.
Further reading
You can create other survey items in Surpass. Read the following articles for more information: