Qualtrics Survey System

Using Static Loop and Merge

Loop and Merge allows you to ask the same set of questions about multiple things. Efficiency and consistency are realized because you create the set of questions only once. The question set that will be looped must be contained in a separate question block.

With Static Loop and Merge you create the loops. Within each loop, you define variables. Using Smart Text, you can pipe/merge the variable text into a set of questions, and have those questions asked in each loop. For a more detailed description, refer to Understanding Static Loop and Merge.

NOTES:
The question set that will be looped must be contained in a separate question block.
Each loop appears to the respondent on a separate page.

This document contains information on the following:

Using Static Loop and Merge
About Defining Loops

Using Static Loop and Merge

Create the question block that will contain the questions to be looped
Create the questions within the block
From the Block Options pull-down menu, select Loop and Merge...
The Loop and Merge dialog box appears.
Click TURN ON LOOP & MERGE
In the Loop and Merge table, following the Data Prefix, type each variable in its own field
NOTES:
There must be at least two loops for Static Loop and Merge to work.
For more detailed information, refer to About Defining Loops.
In the Loop Randomization Options section, select the desired option
Click SAVE
For each question in the block, to pipe in the Smart Text variables,
1. Select the question
2. Click RICH TEXT EDITOR
  The Rich Text Editor dialog box appears.
3. Place cursor where you want the piped text inserted
4. Click PIPE SMART TEXT
  The Piped Text dialog box appears.
5. From the Pipe text from a pull-down menu, select Loop and Merge Field
6. From the Loop and Merge Field pull-down menu, select the field number
  Code appears in the Edit Survey view. Respondents will see the question with the piped text.
Test your survey to make sure Loop and Merge is working as you intend

About Defining Loops

This section provides an explanation and additional information about steps 6 and 7 of Using Static Loop and Merge. What you type into the text box looks like this:
Loop and Merge table, showing three loops, each with four variables

The following annotated diagram describes what each piece of information is:
Image depicting the elements used in defining loops

Loop
This refers to one instance of the set of questions being asked. The fields in a loop are related to one another.

Field
The fields in a loop are related to one another. They are referred to by number and can be piped/merged into the questions.