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 is 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 Block Options dialog box appears.
Select the Loop and Merge tab
Select Use Static Loop and Merge with this question block
In the text box, type a Data Prefix followed by a comma
NOTES:
The Data Prefix acts as the export tag for that loop.
For more detailed information, refer to About Defining Loops.
Following the Data Prefix, type the variables, separating each with a comma
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 the CREATE RICH TEXT... tab
  The Create Rich Text pane appears.
3. Place your cursor where you want the Smart Text to appear
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 second pull-down menu, select the appropriate Loop and Merge Field number
  HINT: This refers to the position of the text string within the loop. For more information, refer to About Defining Loops.
  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:
Block Options dialog box showing Loop definition

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.

Data Prefix
This two-character set becomes the export tag for that in your results.

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