To create a basic survey to be scanned by the Scanmark 2500:

Before you begin:

1. Create a model, define the variables, choose an answering scale. If you are going to print the scanable survey on the laser printer, try to keep it as brief as you can. Questions and answer choices are both printed on the same document, and it can get lengthy quickly.
2. Be careful of stapling the survey pages. The staples must be removed before the pages can be scanned and the staples can cause the pages to warp and misfeed. The pages must be flat and clean in order to scan properly.
3. It's best to run a pilot first and determine if you're on the right track. Create a scaled-down version, administer it, scan it, and see if it gives you the information you need. Once your survey instrument has been validated, proceed on a larger scale.
4. Hidden categories can be used to group questions in order to give more meaningful statistics. Hidden categories are found in the Survey Construction Toolbox.

1. From the Windows desktop, double-click on the PulseSurveyII icon.
2. Choose the Surveys button on the Records Manager.
3. Choose New from the File Menu.
4. Fill out the Survey Information dialog box and click on OK.
5. Add a title by choosing Title from the Type drop-down list.

Click in the Data Entry box.

Type the title

Press the F9 key or click the check button.

6. Add an explanatory paragraph by choosing Paragraph from the Type drop-down list..

Click in the data entry box and type the paragraph.

Press F9 or click on the Check button to enter the paragraph description.

 

 

 

 

7. Add demographic questions.

Choose Survey Construction Toolbox from the Edit menu.

Select the Demographic radio button.

Click the New button in the lower half of the Toolbox.

Enter a name for the demographic.

Enter a category if there is one.

Enter the question in the Item: text box.

Select 360 Degree Profile if you wish to make the demographic a profile demographic.

Enter the number of options in the answer scall in the Scale Size box.

Enter each scale option into the Answer Scales: boxes.

Click on OK

8. Add scaled items. Scaled items must have a scale preceding the item. If the same scale is used for a sequential group of questions, it can be printed only once. If the scale changes, the new scale must be printed.

Add a Scale using the F9 key or Check button.

Choose Scale from the Type drop-down list.

Choose a scale from the list. You can see a more complete description of the scale by accessing the scale from the Survey Construction Toolbox in the Edit menu.

After selecting a scale, press F9 and the scale now appears in your survey.

To create a custom answering scale:

Double-click the entry field where you want to insert the scale and the Survey Construction Toolbox appears.

Choose the Scale radio button.

Choose New.

Type in the Scale Name

Select the Scale Size edit box and insert the number of points on your new scale (up to 10 points).

Select the Scale Type radio button (continuous or categorical). Choosing the Set Defaults button automatically arranges the scale from negative to positive response for you.

Type in the name of each response category.

When finished, click OK.

The Survey Contruction Toolbox appears and the new scale is selected in the list box.

Click OK again.

 

 

 

9. Adding Open-Ended Items

Choose Survey Construction Toolbox from the Edit menu or double click the entry field where you want the open-ended question to appear.

Select the Item radio button.

Choose the Open-Ended radio button.

Select the Data Entry box and type the question.

Select the Number of Lines box, enter the number of lines you want to follow the question (for the response).

Choose OK.

10. Creating a Scannable Survey

When the survey is complete, choose Scannable Form from the File Menu or choose the Scannable Form button on the Toolbar.

This applies the timing marks on the survey. Be aware that the page layout and scale styles are likely to change when you make a scannable form.

Perform a print test to make sure the survey will scan.

Click on File, Print

Specify the printer you will be using, HP5M on LPT1.

Choose Print.

11. Making a Form Definition File (FDF) for a Scannable Survey.

Choose Make Form Definition from the File menu.

The file should be stored in the PULSSURV\FORMS folder.

Give it a filename appropriate to your form, including your name. For example, benekossurv1.fdf

Click on OK.

12. Closing a survey

Tip: Save your work often as you are building your survey by going to the File menu and clicking on Save.

To scan your survey:

1. Double click on the PulseSurvey II icon on the Windows desktop.

Select your survey.

2. Click Administraction, New file

Type a name for this administration. For example, Fall 2000.

Click OK.

3. Click the red SSS button at the top of the screen.

Click Current Survey Form

4. Load the forms into the scanner.

Click SCAN.

5. When all forms have been scanned, push the blue button (end of batch).
6. Scroll down the screen and check each line for questions marks and correct them by replacing with dots.
7. Click File, Close.
8. Select Reports, New.