Glossary of Terminology
This section describes SurveyGold terminology.
anonymous respondent
A respondent whose name and contact information is unknown at the time a question is asked. An anonymous respondent is typically involved in completing a questionnaire.
A respondent whose name and contact information is unknown at the time a question is asked. An anonymous respondent is typically involved in completing a questionnaire.
author
A person who uses the SurveyGold application to create a survey by defining sections, questions and choices. This person also specifies formatting preferences for printed questionnaires or web survey forms.
A person who uses the SurveyGold application to create a survey by defining sections, questions and choices. This person also specifies formatting preferences for printed questionnaires or web survey forms.
callback
A scheduled telephone solicitation that results from a respondent being unreachable or unavailable.
A scheduled telephone solicitation that results from a respondent being unreachable or unavailable.
conducting
The process of contacting and presenting respondents with a survey.
The process of contacting and presenting respondents with a survey.
contact
A person recorded in a personal information management application that is a known respondent.
A person recorded in a personal information management application that is a known respondent.
drill-down
The process of viewing more specific report detail from within a report. This is typically done by selecting a graph segment, legend item or displayed item in the View Results tab.
The process of viewing more specific report detail from within a report. This is typically done by selecting a graph segment, legend item or displayed item in the View Results tab.
enumeration
The integer value automatically assigned to a question response. The enumeration value is based on the position of the response in the choice set. The first choice is assigned a value of 1, the second 2, the third 3, etc. The enumeration value is used to derive the mean, mode, median, minimum, maximum and standard deviation for any question with a response choice set. The enumeration is visible when you move your mouse pointer over a graph segment in the View Results tab. The mean, mode, median, mode, median and standard deviation are displayed in a corner of any graphs produced in the View Results tab or Analyze Results tab. The enumeration is also available in a discrete column when performing the Convert Responses action in the Analyze Results tab.
The integer value automatically assigned to a question response. The enumeration value is based on the position of the response in the choice set. The first choice is assigned a value of 1, the second 2, the third 3, etc. The enumeration value is used to derive the mean, mode, median, minimum, maximum and standard deviation for any question with a response choice set. The enumeration is visible when you move your mouse pointer over a graph segment in the View Results tab. The mean, mode, median, mode, median and standard deviation are displayed in a corner of any graphs produced in the View Results tab or Analyze Results tab. The enumeration is also available in a discrete column when performing the Convert Responses action in the Analyze Results tab.
filter
A subset of respondents displayed in the View Results tab and that, once defined, can be used by the Analyze Results tab. A filter is created based on a particular response to one or more questions and/or based on a response date range.
A subset of respondents displayed in the View Results tab and that, once defined, can be used by the Analyze Results tab. A filter is created based on a particular response to one or more questions and/or based on a response date range.
known respondent
A respondent whose name and optional contact information are known at the time a question is asked.
A respondent whose name and optional contact information are known at the time a question is asked.
maximum
The maximum enumeration value for a given question. The maximum is visible in the graph in the View Results tab and when performing the Publish Word or Publish Web actions in the Analyze Results tab.
The maximum enumeration value for a given question. The maximum is visible in the graph in the View Results tab and when performing the Publish Word or Publish Web actions in the Analyze Results tab.
mean
A mathematical average of the enumeration values for a given question. The mean is visible in the graph in the View Results tab and when performing the Publish Word or Publish Web actions in the Analyze Results tab.
A mathematical average of the enumeration values for a given question. The mean is visible in the graph in the View Results tab and when performing the Publish Word or Publish Web actions in the Analyze Results tab.
median
The enumeration value separating the higher half of enumeration values from the lower half of enumeration values for a given question. The median is visible in the graph in the View Results tab and when performing the Publish Word or Publish Web actions in the Analyze Results tab.
The enumeration value separating the higher half of enumeration values from the lower half of enumeration values for a given question. The median is visible in the graph in the View Results tab and when performing the Publish Word or Publish Web actions in the Analyze Results tab.
minimum
The minimum enumeration value for a given question. The minimum is visible in the graph in the View Results tab and when performing the Publish Word or Publish Web actions in the Analyze Results tab.
The minimum enumeration value for a given question. The minimum is visible in the graph in the View Results tab and when performing the Publish Word or Publish Web actions in the Analyze Results tab.
mode
The enumeration values that appears most often for a given question. The mode is visible in the graph in the View Results tab and when performing the Publish Word or Publish Web actions in the Analyze Results tab.
The enumeration values that appears most often for a given question. The mode is visible in the graph in the View Results tab and when performing the Publish Word or Publish Web actions in the Analyze Results tab.
multiple-response question
A type of question that allows multiple responses where the order of the replies has no significance.
A type of question that allows multiple responses where the order of the replies has no significance.
ordered-multiple-response question
A type of question that allows multiple responses where the order of the replies has significance.
A type of question that allows multiple responses where the order of the replies has significance.
question
A statement posed to a respondent via a questionnaire that may evoke a response. A question has an associated response type that determines the number and order of responses allowed. A question may have a choice set from which the respondent must choose a response. A question must be presented to the respondent either by a surveyor or by a questionnaire.
A statement posed to a respondent via a questionnaire that may evoke a response. A question has an associated response type that determines the number and order of responses allowed. A question may have a choice set from which the respondent must choose a response. A question must be presented to the respondent either by a surveyor or by a questionnaire.
questionnaire
A manifestation of a survey that requires no surveyor involvement or intervention. A questionnaire could be, for example, printed (e.g. on a multi-paged form), displayed (e.g., kiosk or web page), or verbalized (e.g., automated attendant).
A manifestation of a survey that requires no surveyor involvement or intervention. A questionnaire could be, for example, printed (e.g. on a multi-paged form), displayed (e.g., kiosk or web page), or verbalized (e.g., automated attendant).
respondent
A person to whom a survey is targeted and to whom survey questions are asked. See also anonymous respondent and known respondent.
A person to whom a survey is targeted and to whom survey questions are asked. See also anonymous respondent and known respondent.
response
The set of responses provided by a respondent to a question.
The set of responses provided by a respondent to a question.
response choice set
An optional, ordered set of pre-specified responses for a respondent to select from when answering a question. Also known as a response set.
An optional, ordered set of pre-specified responses for a respondent to select from when answering a question. Also known as a response set.
response type
Denotes the pattern of response(s) required of a respondent to a particular question (single-response, multiple-response, rank-ordered-multiple-response).
Denotes the pattern of response(s) required of a respondent to a particular question (single-response, multiple-response, rank-ordered-multiple-response).
results
The total set of questions, respondents and responses associated with a survey.
The total set of questions, respondents and responses associated with a survey.
section
An ordered set of questions. A section has a name and may have instructions. In a web survey form, a section may optionally present responses in a tabular, matrix presentation style which response choices presented in columns and question text on each row.
An ordered set of questions. A section has a name and may have instructions. In a web survey form, a section may optionally present responses in a tabular, matrix presentation style which response choices presented in columns and question text on each row.
single-response question
A type of question that allows only a single response.
A type of question that allows only a single response.
skip-to question
During the execution of a survey, the decision point at which the navigational flow of the survey proceeds to a specific question based upon the response provided to the current question. This notion is applicable in a single-page web survey form or paper-based survey form.
During the execution of a survey, the decision point at which the navigational flow of the survey proceeds to a specific question based upon the response provided to the current question. This notion is applicable in a single-page web survey form or paper-based survey form.
skip-to section
During a execution of a survey, the decision point at which the navigational flow of the survey proceeds to a specific section based upon the response provided to the current question. This notion is applicable in a multi-page web survey form where each section is displayed on its own page.
During a execution of a survey, the decision point at which the navigational flow of the survey proceeds to a specific section based upon the response provided to the current question. This notion is applicable in a multi-page web survey form where each section is displayed on its own page.
standard deviation
A statistical calculation that shows how much variation or dispersion from the average enumeration value exists for a given question. A low standard deviation indicates that the enumeration values tend to be very close to the mean; a high standard deviation indicates that the enumeration values are spread out over a large range of values. The standard deviation is visible in the graph in the View Results tab and when performing the Publish Word or Publish Web actions in the Analyze Results tab.
A statistical calculation that shows how much variation or dispersion from the average enumeration value exists for a given question. A low standard deviation indicates that the enumeration values tend to be very close to the mean; a high standard deviation indicates that the enumeration values are spread out over a large range of values. The standard deviation is visible in the graph in the View Results tab and when performing the Publish Word or Publish Web actions in the Analyze Results tab.
survey
An ordered set of sections. A survey has a name, instructions, description and an associated set of known and/or anonymous respondents.
An ordered set of sections. A survey has a name, instructions, description and an associated set of known and/or anonymous respondents.
surveyor
A person who does any of the following:
A) Presents the questions to a respondent via an over-the-phone or in-person survey
B) Records responses provided by respondents
A person who does any of the following:
A) Presents the questions to a respondent via an over-the-phone or in-person survey
B) Records responses provided by respondents
web survey
A questionnaire presented to a respondent online via a web browser. Web survey responses are recorded on the SurveyGold website and are to be downloaded by the survey author to their SurveyGold application for reporting and analysis. Web survey responses can optionally be emailed to a survey author, a respondent or a defined set of email addresses.
A questionnaire presented to a respondent online via a web browser. Web survey responses are recorded on the SurveyGold website and are to be downloaded by the survey author to their SurveyGold application for reporting and analysis. Web survey responses can optionally be emailed to a survey author, a respondent or a defined set of email addresses.
