When respondents generate records (either complete or incomplete), each is saved as a separate file in the /data directory on your server. Each data file starts with the four-character Study Name followed by an alpha-numeric code. For example, the first three respondent records for a study with a study name of soda might be named:
sodaa.cgi
sodab.cgi
sodac.cgi
The data files are in comma-delimited text-only format. The data files include all information provided by the respondent.
When you use the Admin Module to get/accumulate the data, any completed records are moved from the /data directory to the master data file (STUDYNAMEdat.cgi) in the /admin directory (again comma-delimited text-only format). Incomplete records always remain in the /data directory.
Backing Up/Skipping Backward and "Limbo" Data
If respondents back up in a survey (or are skipped backward) to re-answer a previous question, answers to the later questions (which are now only conditionally valid) are thrown into "limbo" status and are not saved in the final data file (though they are available in the "limbo" folder). Respondents must re-answer those questions.
Respondents can back up in a survey by either clicking the browser's back button or by being skipping back to a previous question.
Example:
As respondents answer questions to an SSI Web survey, the answers are recorded in the data file like this:
Q1, 5
Q2, 3
Q3, 2
Q4, 13
Here is an example of backing up and re-answering a previous question:
Q1, 5
Q2, 3
Q3, 2
Q4, 13
Q2, 7 (The respondent backs up and re-answers Q2)
The data file is then cleaned and old data go into the limbo folder. Now the data record looks like this:
Q1, 5
Q2, 7
and the respondent needs to answer Q3 and Q4 again.
