The default response for a drop down menu or list box is always the first option, even if the respondent didn't actually select a response.
For example, if we create a survey question as a drop down menu with 4 choices, it would look like this:
The first option in the list box is Canada. If a respondent skips over this question, and clicks the "Submit Survey", the result for this survey question would be recorded as Canada.
This may not be the bahaviour that you as the surveyor would want.
There are two ways to change this behaviour.
When creating your question in the online survey, make your first option "- Please Select -" [example]
When the question is displayed on the survey you will see the following;
When you are reviewing your results and you see a "- Please Select -" response, you will know that these are non-responders to this question
If you want to force a response from the responder - so that when they click Submit, and a response hasn't been selected and an error message is displayed - set up the question with the first option being blank [example]
When the question is displayed it will look like this:
If the respondent submits the survey and there is no value for this question and the Mandatory Response option has been set than an error will be generated.
Author: ml (2005/02/09)
