Survey Rule Templates

Use the properties in this tab to specify how information in a survey is to update the panel, and to specify which rules are to be used in which event. Three events can be controlled by rules:

• When and how the database is updated with respect to panelists who have completed the survey.
• When and how the database is updated with respect to panelists who have not responded to the survey.
• When the survey is to be closed to respondents.

Creating a New Survey Rule Template

1. Click the New Survey Rule Template button located towards the right end of the list toolbar.

The New Survey Rule Template dialog box opens - .



Figure 1 - The New Survey Rule Template dialog box

2. Type a name for the new rule into the Name field.
3. Click OK.

The Rules page opens, enabling you to edit the rules for the template - .



Figure 2 - The Edit Rules page

The properties are as follows:

• Name – the name of the rule. This can be edited as required.
• Update Completes Rule – the rule that updates the panel database with information on the panelists who have completed the survey since the previous time this rule was run. Note that this rule will only be run when the Survey Synchronization task runs (go to Survey Synchronization for more information). The Survey Synchronization task must therefore be set up to run at suitable intervals such that the panel database is maintained appropriately.
• Update Non Responder Rule – not all panelists selected for a survey will always wish or be able to respond to the survey invitation. This rule is intended to be used to free up panelists who have not responded to the survey within a set time, so they can be used in new surveys. This rule is usually run once between the start and closing dates of a survey, on a date specified by the Update Non Responder Days setting below. Note that this rule will only be run when the Survey Synchronization task runs (go to Survey Synchronization for more information). The Survey Synchronization task will therefore need to be set up such that this rule is run at the required time.
• Survey Closing Rule – this rule is run when a survey is to be closed (when the survey is completed). Note that this rule will only be run when the Survey Synchronization task runs (go to Survey Synchronization for more information). The Survey Synchronization task will therefore need to be set up such that this rule is run at the required time. Note also that this rule has the same effect as going manually to the survey's Project Management > Overview > Panel Status tab and selecting Closed.
• Update Non Responder Days – the number of days after the start of a survey that the Update Non Responder rule is to be run (see also Update Non Responder Rule above).
• Close Days – the number of days after the survey is first made available to a sample that the survey is closed – the life of the survey.
4. Select the rules and type the required values into the fields as appropriate, then click Save or Save and Close to input the settings.