[DDI-users] InParameter/OutParameter and Binding in Questionnaires

Wackerow, Joachim Joachim.Wackerow at gesis.org
Mon Dec 14 12:41:04 EST 2015


Thanks. This is helpful.

I’m also concerned regarding reusability. Some more comments:

The binding definition is a child element of QuestionItem, QuestionConstruct, and Sequence. This means each of these elements are only reusable independently of the context if the binding is defined in the element where the InParameter is defined. This is just in other words what you said with “Binding for objects intended for reuse should be done at their point of use when possible.”

The SourceParameterReference seems to combine the definition of an InParameter with a binding. I assume this can be limiting because no specific value of an array can be addressed. I.e. a variable can be the result of a question in a row of a QuestionGrid. The binding would only be possible by means of an intermediate GenerationInstruction. Or did I miss something?

Anyway, the use of the SourceParameterReference makes a Variable not reusable.

A thought on future DDI versions:
A more consistent approach would be to use the same solution as an QuestionItem: the definition of an InParameter. The binding should be done independently of the Variable to support reusable variables.

Achim


From: ddi-users-bounces at icpsr.umich.edu [mailto:ddi-users-bounces at icpsr.umich.edu] On Behalf Of Wendy Thomas
Sent: Montag, 14. Dezember 2015 15:29
To: Data Documentation Initiative Users Group
Subject: Re: [DDI-users] InParameter/OutParameter and Binding in Questionnaires

A couple of points about binding in 3.2:

First in answer to your earlier question regarding the path of the binding from the question item to the control construct to the generation instruction to the variable. You are correct that you could bind directly from the variable to the question. However, a question item may be used in many locations within a questionnaire (Age for example). It could be part of multiple sequences, in a loop, etc. By specifying the link between a question and its specific control construct the question can be reused multiple times, and each time one can create a binding to its specific usage.

Binding itself may be done within the construct of the item or at the time of reference using the SourceParameterReference. This may not be as well distributed as it should be. I see it in VariableType and ConditionalTextType. This should be reviewed for a 3.3 version. Binding to a question outparameter in an instrument should be done at the level of the control construct to keep the question reusable. In short, you can make your binding links as short as you wish for your specific needs. Binding for objects intended for reuse should be done at their point of use when possible.

Wendy

On Sun, Dec 13, 2015 at 10:53 AM, Wackerow, Joachim <Joachim.Wackerow at gesis.org<mailto:Joachim.Wackerow at gesis.org>> wrote:
Relationship class is in DDI 4.
The related documentation says “Relationship specification between this item and the item to which it is related.”
Using this approach for binding would conflict with the idea of reusability because the reference to a another object would be part of the object itself.

The concept of binding is in 3.2 a little different. Two identifiable parameters are referenced by the binding definition. But the binding is a child element of the element having a parameter. This seems to be limiting regarding reusability.

Back to the usage in DDI 3.2:
Any thoughts on the question regarding the binding definition only in the Sequence (the OutParameter of Question 1 and the InParameter of Question 2).
This is a DDI 3.2 question.

Achim



From: ddi-users-bounces at icpsr.umich.edu<mailto:ddi-users-bounces at icpsr.umich.edu> [mailto:ddi-users-bounces at icpsr.umich.edu<mailto:ddi-users-bounces at icpsr.umich.edu>] On Behalf Of Hoyle, Larry
Sent: Freitag, 11. Dezember 2015 20:48
To: Data Documentation Initiative Users Group
Subject: Re: [DDI-users] InParameter/OutParameter and Binding in Questionnaires

Would this be an application of the Relationship classes?

--- Larry Hoyle


From: ddi-users-bounces at icpsr.umich.edu<mailto:ddi-users-bounces at icpsr.umich.edu> [mailto:ddi-users-bounces at icpsr.umich.edu] On Behalf Of Wackerow, Joachim
Sent: Friday, December 11, 2015 12:32 PM
To: Data Documentation Initiative Users Group (ddi-users at icpsr.umich.edu<mailto:ddi-users at icpsr.umich.edu>) <ddi-users at icpsr.umich.edu<mailto:ddi-users at icpsr.umich.edu>>
Subject: [DDI-users] InParameter/OutParameter and Binding in Questionnaires

I’m wondering where the binding can be specified and which way is best to support reusability of QuestionItems.

This topic is documented in the Technical Documentation of DDI 3.2. There is a related diagram on page 35 (and a related example XML file InOutBindingExample). This explains that binding is done in a chain from Question 1 up to the Sequence and then down again to Question 2. This shows all possibilities of defining bindings in this case.

A simpler way would be to define the binding of directly in the Sequence (the OutParameter of Question 1 and the InParameter of Question 2). Then all other bindings are not necessary and the questions are totally reusable. This would also correspond to the actual use of these two questions in the sequence. Only then the binding is important.

Are there any disadvantages to use this option?


A more general thought: a definition of a binding is probably mostly of local use (here for questions in a sequence). Therefore it can conflict with the idea of reusability. In this sense, a better location for binding definitions would be an independent scheme. On the other hand, if the sequence should be reused like it is it makes sense to have the binding definition in the sequence.

Achim






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Wendy L. Thomas                              Phone: +1 612.624.4389
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