Reference Manual > Questions > Verbatim question

The answer to a verbatim question is some text. Any mix of languages can be used for verbatim answers as the text is stored in a UTF-8 encoded file.

New lines cannot be included in the text so all the text will be in the same paragraph.

For CSV data files (recommended) the verbatim texts are stored in the main data file.

For other data types the text is not stored in the data file and it does not use any data locations. Answers to verbatim questions are stored in a separate CSV file along with some identifying information.

The limit on the number of characters that can be given as an answer is 5000 characters if using Telin.

Verbatim questions are normally used for CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interview) or CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interview), although they may be used in paper copy questionnaires if large amounts of verbatim text needs to be inserted during data input.

The answer texts can be set to always be:

•All upper case

•All lower case

The text is converted as it is entered.

IMPORTANT: If not using CSV data, do not refer to verbatim questions in filter definitions. If you use this type of filter, it must be removed from all entries after data has been entered because the verbatim question will always be empty.

IMPORTANT: For CATI verbatim texts are written to the CSV file for the main data file, even if interviews are saved as incomplete records (appointments) in the partial data file.

Verbatim CSV file (coding file)

A verbatim CSV file is created when entering data except when the main data file is CSV.

It can also be created using [Data] [Export coding file for selected entries] from the Main window menu.

See Verbatim file (coding) for information about this file.