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Single Answer Question

The most fundamental survey question type. Allow respondents to select exactly one option from a list of choices.

Question Type Code: MC:SingleAnswer | Last Updated: December 2025

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Overview

What is a Single Answer Question?

A Single Answer question (also known as radio button or single-select) allows survey respondents to select exactly one option from a list of predefined choices. This is the most fundamental and widely-used question type across all industries.

  • Radio button interface - Visual indicator of single selection
  • Mutually exclusive options - Only one choice allowed
  • Universal support - Works across all 20+ platforms
  • 100% conversion accuracy - Perfect structure preservation

When you create a single answer question in Pirai AI using the MC:SingleAnswer type, it converts seamlessly to the native single-select format across Qualtrics, REDCap, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, and all other supported platforms.

When to Use

✅ Best Use Cases

Demographics

  • Age ranges (18-24, 25-34, 35-44, etc.)
  • Gender identity
  • Education level
  • Employment status
  • Geographic location

Preferences & Opinions

  • Product preferences (Which feature is most important?)
  • Service ratings (How satisfied are you?)
  • Brand selection (Which brand do you prefer?)
  • Agreement scales (Do you agree with this statement?)

Classification & Screening

  • Industry classification
  • Job role identification
  • Customer type (B2B vs B2C)
  • Screening qualifications (Yes/No eligibility)

Behavioral Questions

  • Purchase frequency (Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Often, Always)
  • Usage patterns (How often do you use X?)
  • Decision-making (Who makes purchasing decisions?)

Assessment & Quizzes

  • Multiple choice test questions
  • Knowledge checks
  • Certification exams
  • Training assessments

❌ When NOT to Use

Use Different Question Types Instead

  • Need multiple selections? → Use MC:MultipleAnswer (check all that apply)
  • Rating multiple items on same scale? → Use Matrix (grid questions)
  • Need open-ended text? → Use TE:Essay or TE:SingleLine
  • Need ranking/ordering? → Use RankOrder

Visual Example

How Respondents See It

Q1
What is your current employment status?

Key Visual Characteristics:

  • Radio buttons (circles ○) indicating single selection
  • Only one option can be selected at a time
  • Clear visual distinction from checkboxes (multiple answer)
  • Hover effect on options for better user experience

Pirai AI Excel Specification

Quick Reference

To create a Single Answer question in Pirai AI, use the 7-column Excel format:

Block Name Question ID Question Text Question Type Answer Option Text Recode Value Matrix Type
Demographics Q1 What is your current employment status? MC:SingleAnswer Employed full-time 1
Demographics Q1 Employed part-time 2
Demographics Q1 Self-employed 3
Demographics Q1 Unemployed, seeking work 4
Demographics Q1 Student 5
Demographics Q1 Retired 6

Key Formatting Rules

  1. First Row: Contains Block Name, Question ID, Question Text, MC:SingleAnswer, first option, and recode value 1
  2. Subsequent Rows: Same Block Name and Question ID, but leave Question Text and Question Type empty
  3. Answer Options: Each option gets its own row with sequential recode values (1, 2, 3, 4...)
  4. Matrix Type: Always leave empty for multiple choice questions

📖 Full Format Documentation

See the complete Excel Specification Format Guide for detailed column explanations and advanced formatting options.

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Customer Satisfaction Survey

Question: How would you rate your overall satisfaction with our service?

Block Name Question ID Question Text Question Type Answer Option Text Recode Value Matrix Type
Satisfaction Q3 How would you rate your overall satisfaction with our service? MC:SingleAnswer Very Dissatisfied 1
Satisfaction Q3 Dissatisfied 2
Satisfaction Q3 Neutral 3
Satisfaction Q3 Satisfied 4
Satisfaction Q3 Very Satisfied 5

Example 2: Market Research - Brand Preference

Question: Which smartphone brand do you currently use?

Block Name Question ID Question Text Question Type Answer Option Text Recode Value Matrix Type
Usage Q5 Which smartphone brand do you currently use? MC:SingleAnswer Apple (iPhone) 1
Usage Q5 Samsung 2
Usage Q5 Google (Pixel) 3
Usage Q5 Xiaomi 4
Usage Q5 OnePlus 5
Usage Q5 Other 6
Usage Q5 I don't own a smartphone 7

Example 3: Academic Assessment

Question: What is the capital of France?

Block Name Question ID Question Text Question Type Answer Option Text Recode Value Matrix Type
Geography Q2 What is the capital of France? MC:SingleAnswer London 1
Geography Q2 Paris 2
Geography Q2 Berlin 3
Geography Q2 Madrid 4

Example 4: Net Promoter Score (NPS)

Question: How likely are you to recommend our company to a friend or colleague?

Block Name Question ID Question Text Question Type Answer Option Text Recode Matrix
NPS Q7 How likely are you to recommend our company? (0 = Not at all likely, 10 = Extremely likely) MC:SingleAnswer 0 - Not at all likely 0
NPS Q7 1 1
NPS Q7 2 2
... (continues 3-9) ...
NPS Q7 10 - Extremely likely 10

💡 NPS Tip

Use recode values 0-10 (not 1-11) to match standard NPS scoring methodology.

Platform Support Matrix

✅ Full Native Support

MC:SingleAnswer converts to native single-select formats across all 20+ Pirai AI platforms:

Platform Category Platforms Native Question Type
Market Research Qualtrics, QuestionPro, Forsta, SurveyMonkey, Alchemer, Zoho Surveys Single choice / Radio buttons
Healthcare REDCap, Sawtooth Radio buttons (single answer)
Education (LMS) Moodle, Canvas, Kahoot, LearnWorlds, BrainCert, ClassMarker Multiple choice (single answer)
Standards QTI 2.1, Respondus Choice interaction (single)
Enterprise Google Forms, Microsoft Forms, PointerPro Multiple choice / Radio buttons

Conversion Quality

  • Accuracy: 100% - Single answer questions maintain perfect structure
  • Compatibility: All 20+ platforms, zero configuration required
  • Speed: 15 seconds for entire survey vs 2-5 minutes per question manually

Horizontal Layout Variant

For questions with fewer options (typically 3-7), you can use horizontal display with MC:SingleAnswer:Horizontal:

Visual Comparison

Vertical (Default):

○ Very Dissatisfied
○ Dissatisfied
○ Neutral
○ Satisfied
○ Very Satisfied

Horizontal Layout:

○ Very Dissatisfied   ○ Dissatisfied   ○ Neutral
○ Satisfied   ○ Very Satisfied

Excel Format for Horizontal

Simply change the question type to MC:SingleAnswer:Horizontal:

Block Name Question ID Question Text Question Type Answer Option Text Recode Matrix
Survey Q4 Rate your experience: MC:SingleAnswer:Horizontal Poor 1
Survey Q4 Fair 2
Survey Q4 Good 3
Survey Q4 Excellent 4

💡 When to Use Horizontal Layout

  • Short option text (1-3 words)
  • 3-7 options maximum
  • Rating scales (satisfaction, agreement, frequency)
  • Likert-style single items

Best Practices

✅ Design Guidelines

Option Count

  • Minimum: 2 options
  • Optimal: 3-7 options for usability
  • Maximum: No technical limit, but 15+ options reduce response quality

Option Text

  • Keep concise (under 100 characters per option)
  • Use parallel structure ("Very satisfied" / "Somewhat satisfied" not "Very satisfied" / "I am somewhat satisfied")
  • Order logically (ascending/descending scales, alphabetical, or by frequency)

Required Options

  • Include "Other (please specify)" when list isn't exhaustive
  • Add "None of the above" when applicable
  • Consider "Prefer not to answer" for sensitive questions

Scale Design

  • Use 5-point scales for general attitudes (Strongly Disagree → Strongly Agree)
  • Use 7-point scales for more nuanced measurement
  • Use 0-10 for NPS and recommendation likelihood
  • Maintain scale consistency across similar questions

✅ Data Quality Tips

💡 Improve Response Quality

  1. Avoid Leading Questions: "Don't you agree that..." → "To what extent do you agree..."
  2. Balance Options: Equal positive and negative options
  3. Include Neutral: Add middle option for true midpoint (e.g., "Neither agree nor disagree")
  4. Mutually Exclusive: Ensure options don't overlap
  5. Test Order Effects: Randomize when possible (set in platform after conversion)

FAQs

Q: Can I use images as answer options?

A: Pirai AI focuses on text-based specifications. After conversion to your target platform (Qualtrics, QuestionPro, etc.), you can add images using the platform's native editor.

Q: How do I make a question required?

A: Required/optional settings are configured in the target platform after conversion. Pirai AI handles question structure, not validation rules.

Q: Can I add skip logic based on answer?

A: Display/skip logic is platform-specific and should be added after conversion in your target platform's logic editor.

Q: What if my options have different recode values like 1, 2, 5, 10?

A: Non-sequential values are supported! Use any integer values that match your analytical needs (e.g., age ranges coded as midpoints: 22, 27, 32, etc.).

Q: How do I handle "Other (please specify)" with text box?

A: Include "Other" as a standard option in Pirai AI. After conversion, use the platform's native "Other with text box" feature if available.

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