Single choice and Multiple choice virtual questions (VQs) are set up the same way. They behave like the Radio buttons and Checkboxes question types in the Survey Editor: choose Single choice when every answer option you plan to evaluate is mutually exclusive—for example, you're measuring only ONE demographic, so each respondent fits into exactly one bucket. Choose Multiple choice when answer options can overlap—for example, when respondents were able to select more than one option.
Two other VQ types, Matrix single choice and Open ended, are also available from the same dropdown. This article covers Single choice and Multiple choice only.
Learn more about Virtual Questions in the Lighthouse Academy!
In This Article
- Using Optional Presets
- Configuring Single choice and Multiple choice VQs
- Using advanced mode
- Comparing to Everyone else
Using Optional Presets
The Optional Presets dropdown is where you'll find ready-made groupings such as group logic, quota groups, nested quota groups, prefix and hashtag groups, codebooks, and data cleaning groups.
When you select a preset, the VQ may not switch to Multiple choice right away. After you click Generate visualization, if overlap is detected between answer options, the VQ automatically switches to Multiple choice.
⚠️ Note: Once overlap is detected, Single choice is greyed out in the dropdown and a note shows the amount of overlap (e.g., overlap 12.3% detected). You can't switch back to Single choice while your answer options overlap—edit the answer options to remove the overlap first.
Some group-based presets also offer label options. When you select one of these, the Single choice/Multiple choice dropdown is replaced by Labels and Images dropdowns.
Configuring Single choice and Multiple choice VQs
- In the first answer row (A1.), click the first dropdown and choose a data source. Sources are grouped into demographic traits, survey questions, and variables, and also include previously generated virtual questions and Xpert questions. Questions excluded from the survey appear in a collapsed Excluded Questions group.
- Use the second dropdown to narrow the criteria. Its format adapts to the source you picked—for example, a multi-select list of answer options, a dropdown of trait groups, a slider range, or a free-text field.
- Type or paste an answer label into the Please type a label... field.
- To reorder answer options, click and drag a row's handle. To delete an answer option, hover over the row and click the X that appears.
- Click Generate visualization. The button reads Updating visualization while results are calculated, and the output reflects a single or multiple choice result as appropriate.
- If you change your answer options, click Generate visualization again to refresh the VQ.
💡 Tip: You can add as many answer options as you need, but each additional option adds to loading and calculation time.
Additional row options
Each answer row also includes:
- Base—shows the base (Base: N) for that answer option, which can be adjusted with a base expression.
- Image—a dropdown for attaching an image to the answer option.
- Clone—double-click a row's drag handle to duplicate that row.
Using advanced mode
Click switch to advanced mode above an answer option, or switch ALL to advanced mode, to see the logic used to pull data for each answer option. You can edit this logic to fit your needs. If your output is zero, double-check that the logic string is valid.
⚠️ Note: If you edit the logic beyond what basic mode can display, you won't be able to switch back. The control reads Simplify/clear logic to switch to the basic mode until you simplify or clear the logic.
Comparing to Everyone else
In a Single choice or Multiple choice VQ, check the box next to Everyone else to add an answer option that includes all respondents not captured by your programmed answer options.
⚠️ Note: The Everyone else checkbox isn't available for Matrix single choice or Open ended VQs, or when the VQ is read-only.