Scheduling Sample in a Mixed-Mode Project

You may need to load respondent sample data to a mixed-mode project where some records are to be scheduled and assigned for telephone interviewing whilst others will be used only for Web interviewing.

The simplest way to automate this is to create a new column sample named 'catiextendedstatus', then for CAWI-only sample records set the value to be '40'. Extended Status value ‘40’ is Custom10 and is used here as an example, but any spare custom status could be used. When loading the sample, the default ‘simple scheduling’ mode will automatically filter out the CAWI sample to the "not scheduled" list with an Extended Status value of 40 (with 40 being Custom10 or whatever status value was given).

As 'catiextendedstatus' exists as a default field, it is not necessary to create a corresponding background variable, though you can do this if you want to make it available as a CATI filter. Now when sample is loaded the records will be identified with a value of '40', and these will be sent automatically to the 'not scheduled' list and given the extended status of 40.

It is also possible to automate this process by adding a filter to the scheduling rules. The following steps describe the set up process.

1. Create a background variable in the survey.

In this example the question is named “Mode” and has answers “Web” and “CATI”.



Figure 1 - The “Mode” background variable



Figure 2 - Create the answer categories “Web” and “CATI”



Figure 3 - Set the properties to “Background” and “Available as CATI filter”

The respondent sample file will need a “Mode” column, containing “Web” for those records that are to be emailed rather than dialed, and “CATI” for those that will be assigned and scheduled for CATI interviewing.

2. Create a new sub-rule in scheduling to filter the records intended for Web interviewing.

The filter syntax is GetRespondentValue('Mode')=="Web".



Figure 4 - Creating a new sub-rule to filter the records for Web interviewing

3. Create two new actions within the sub-rule, one to suspend the interview so that Web records are not scheduled for CATI, and another to assign an extended status.
   



Figure 5 - Sub-rule actions to suspend the interview and apply a new extended status

Any actions contained within this sub-rule must have both the “Action enabled” and “Filter enabled” checkboxes ticked.



Figure 6 - Actions configured to be enabled with filtering turned on

4. Once the rules are configured click Save.
5. To activate the changes for any survey projects currently using this set of scheduling rules, click the Save and launch button.



Figure 7 - Save or Save and launch the created scheduling script

Note: The launch process will automatically save the scheduling rules in the current state.

6. Load the respondent sample file and set the CATI scheduling option to “Full scheduling” so that the sample loading process runs through the scheduling rules that are assigned to the project.

Figure 8 - Load sample with “Full scheduling” selected

After loading the sample, check the Call Management window in the CATI supervisor console to ensure that the “Web” records are displayed in the “Not Scheduled” list with the appropriate extended status.