QPSMR version 2007.2 has the ability to read and write a unicode QDF (questionnaire definition file). This is ideal is you are working with overseas customers as a unicode QDF file is a "fixed object file" and as such there will be no problems with local language settings.

New [Suspend input] settings are available from the "Question worksheet" and the "Response handling for question" dialog box.  When set the question or response will be unavailable in data entry in the same way as if it had [Refuse input] applied.  This setting only affects data entry (input mode); the response is still accessible in update mode and any data already present for this response is still valid.  This setting is especially useful if wave 1 or a survey included all questions and responses, but some are not included in wave 2 as you can be sure that the data entered in wave 1 will always remain (even if data hand over, or update data is used).  Remember, if questions or responses have a false filter applied to "remove" them, when data hand over or update data is used any data will be deleted!

Multi-coded questions which are blank (empty) are now exported as such (they are left empty); previously they were exported as 0s.

Up to 314 cards can now be used per respondent (serial record); in previous versions up to 200 cards per respondent could be included.

A new XtabML format has been included for exporting tables.  Tables held in this format can be used with other programs and manipulated as required, see www.xtabml.org for more information.

When F12 is used to abort an interview the appropriate ZZZSR0-9 entry is automatically shown on screen for interviewers to select the appropriate reason why the interview has been aborted.  The skeleton CATI QDF file (supplied with the software) has been modified so extra responses are included in entries ZZZSR0-9 - don't forget you can include your own responses too!

Other CATI changes include the user number being added to the serial list report and that priority is now always given to new sample (ZZZSTR can be altered if required).

PREVIOUS VERSIONS

Data lists now show texts for all!

This new numeric format allows you to suppress columns with an unweighted base of less than the set figure - ideal for preserving confidentiality of respondents for projects with a limited sample, for example, specialist medical research, where it might otherwise be possible to identify respondents.

New format option RNK2 (sort "list all rows" by total column values)

Setting new numeric format option RNK to RNK2 means that the rows of "List all rows" tables will be arranged according to the values in the total column in descending order of magnitude, rather than the row labels.  RNK0 will stop the ranking from being done and RNK1 will cause the rows to be ranked by row label value (the default).

QPSMR Input and QPSMR Telin changes

QPSMR 2005.1

Responses can be marked as [Refuse input] so they are not available during data entry; they will not appear in the response list, even in paper mode.  In previous versions of QPSMR false filters or a responses filter from a specified variable would have been required to ensure such responses were not available - now all you need to do is tick the box!

Columns

When an entry with ranking applied is used as the columns of a table, the columns will now be ranked (sorted into descending order based on the figures in the total row).  If this feature is not required simply apply format option RNB set off (NRNB) to your tables.

QPSMR CATI and Telin software for telephone interviewing

As part of our continued improvements to the QPSMR CATI program we have introduced a new module, QPSMR Telin, to collect data from telephone interviews (QPSMR Input will no longer recognise all QPSMR CATI commands and facilities, so if you are a full QPSMR CATI customer it is important that you use the new QPSMR Telin software). 

Also in QPSMR CATI 2005.1 we have made some program modifications to speed up quota checking and appointment updates.

There is a new [Undefined] button available when creating filters that refer to integer or weight entries. This [Undefined] button will pick up those respondents who did not answer the question because they were filtered past it, or because F5 or * was used during data entry to skip the question (presumably because there was no valid answer given).

If data was not entered with QPSMR this button will also pick up respondents with faulty information stored in response to the integer or weight entries referred to by the filter (for example, not a valid number).

Ignore Case for Character Questions in Tables

NEW format option ICT (ignore case in tables) can be used to avoid duplicate rows when using character questions in your tables; so identical texts can now be grouped in the same row even if a mix of cases was used when the data was entered. 

Format ICT has 4 settings:

ICT0 is the default setting and will preserve and distinguish the case used in the response for the character questions (upper/lower case), so the words "Red", "red" and "RED" would appear as 3 separate tables rows.

ICT1 will ignore the case and will show on table the first case encountered in the data - in the example above all 3 would appear in a row labelled "Red".

ICT2 upper case all (RED)

ICT3 lower case all (red)

QPSMR version 2005.1 has 3 new data exports:

CSV with a header row (using "old style" 0 and 1 codes but including a row at the top that labels each columns with the relevant entry name).

Triple-S 1.2 XML (the most recent version of the Triple-s standard)

TSXE (Triple-s extended edition) which exports extra information to the XML file

Also, exported data files now use the data file type as part of the default name, which you can of course change if you wish.  For example, if you selected one of the Triple-s export types for a project (.QDF) named "Cookware" the default name for the exported data would appear as "Cookware SSS".

The default setting for format option RBL (percentages on base line) is off.  However at QPSMR 2005.1 if RBL is set on (true) and format option RTH (percentages on horizontal totals) is also used QPSMR prints 100% figures in the total column.  These will also be included in the CSV file that is automatically created when the tables are run.

There are new selections on the "Options" menu which enable you to edit files directly with external programs rather than using the QPSMR internal viewer.

KFILE sub-folder

We are pleased to announce that ACNielsen "the world's leading market research firm" have purchased QPSMR Insight for several of their offices in their Emerging Markets region.

QPSMR directors, Ros and Andy, visited Cyprus where they provided a 2 day training course for ACNielsen delegates from Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Russia. The course covered all aspects of data processing including questionnaire design; data entry with QPSMR Input; handover and exporting; analysis and QPSMR Reflect for end user analysis.