One of the great challenges in modeling survey metadata is to design the simplest data model capable of rendering the greatest variety of question structures. The definition of such a model supposes the construction of a typology of questions, which evidences the dimensions along which question structures vary and shows the formal similarities. An additional requirement for such a model is that it is capable of supporting the work of the questionnaire drafter, simplifying operations, using predefined parameters and so on. The following file package  starts such a typology, with a special attention to multidimensional structures, like multiple responses on itemized questions.

The following package on a "A typology of questions and the related data model" is made available for further scientific use and project developments according to common information and citation rules.

• The following files are included in the package QVTypes_datamodel_07-07-2005.zip

  1_QVTypesTextp.doc (07-07-2005)
  General presentation of the issue and first attempt at defining a typology based on question levels and data types. Several types have to be further defined.

  2_QVTypesTablep.doc (08-12-2004)
  The original typology, presented in the form of a table.

  3_QVTypesModelp.doc (30-06-2005)
  Proposal for a data model, which would allow the storage of value domains, item lists, answer instances in various combinations and in a re-usable way.

  4_QVTypesMovie.ppt (30-06-2005)
  Dynamic presentation of the various Q/V types and their rendering, using the proposed data model. Initially, this was a presentation at the Congress of e-social science in Manchester, June 2005.