Rotator Survey Classification Station

This module of Rotator is intended for users that have been defined with the role "Classifier" in the "Rotator Surveys Modeler" software module. It allows classifying texts and other types of open variables from the survey, thereby generating categorical variables from the answers of those open questions. For example, if one of the questions in the questionnaire is "Opinion on the economic situation of the country" (Opinion text). You may create classifications (or categories) according to the answers.

To classify text data from your survey:
  • 1) Click the main menu option (on your left) to display the list of available Surveys.
  • 2) Double click the desired one, login and password defined by the Administrator will be required.
  • 3) Once you are in the main screen of the Classification Station, proceed to create a new classification by clicking the "Create a new classification" button, located on the left side of the screen. Then, a wizard will show up offering two options:
  •        I. Create all possible classifications. Select this option if you are classifying alone, i.e. there is no other classification user.
  •        II. Create a new classification. Select this option if the classification process will be executed by two or more classifiers at the same time, in order to distribute the work load between them.

The first option will analyze your survey and will select all variables needed to be classified; the second option will allow you select just one variable to be classified.

To classify just one variable from your Survey do the following:
  • Select the option "Create a new classification" on the left side of your screen. A wizard to create classifications will show up.
  • Select the option "Manual", then click "Next".
  • A list of available variables will show up, select from the dropdown menu the variable you want to classify. (For Example: "Situation of the country")
  • Since a new variable will be created, define its short name. You will also have to enter a keyword, as well as its description for that new variable. When finished press "Ok".
The process of classification:
  • A purple and yellow screen will show up to perform the classification: On the left side, a list of the variables created by you will be displayed. On the right side you can see the responses given by the subjects to the variable selected. Observe that the Frequency of Responses (counting) is also displayed.
  • Select a classification category where you want to classify the first answered text. To do this, click on the grey-colored down arrow on the right side and select "Add new category"
  • Then, a dialog box will show up, requesting the name of the new category. Write the desired name, for example "Favorable".
  • Repeat the previous steps to add as many categories as needed. Each category added will be included in the dropdown list.
  • Once all categories have been entered, proceed line by line assigning the classification to each textual response. You can use the checkboxes on the left to assign several answers to the same category.
Software upper menu options:
  • Chart: Allows you to display the results of the classification on a pie chart, so the analyst can see how the texts have been classified.
  • Order by frequencies: Allows you to sort the answers to be classified according to its frequencies.
  • Order Alphabetically: Allows you to sort the answers to be classified according to its text.
  • Search for text: Allows you to search a text or a string of characters to speed up the classification process.
  • Refresh: Update screen.
  • Import classifications from Excel: If the classifications have been done externally in Excel, this option allows you to import them into Rotator.
  • Classify in lots: Offers a screen to classify according to patterns of texts to search for, or by frequency. The classification by lots allows you to classify and reclassify, so that it creates multiple selection variables according to the texts found.
  • Search by keyword: This tool that allows you to find and permute keywords with the purpose of fasten up the classification process, and make it more comprehensible.
  • Unclassify: Removes the classifications performed leaving the classification as it was originally.
  • Insert an explanatory variable: In certain circumstances it is not possible to classify without knowing something additional about the subject, for example: gender, age, city, etc. Insert an explanatory variable allows you to improve the classification by knowing the answer of a second variable.
NOTES:
  • The term "Classify" used by Rotator is similar to "Codify" used by some market research agencies.
  • On the left column named "Freq." the frequency of the answer is shown. This allows you to decide if it's convenient to create a new classification, because if there are too few subjects with the same answer (for example), it may not make sense to create a new classification only for them.
  • When finished creating your classification, you may press the option "Chart"located on the upper menu, with the purpose of reviewing the classification done. If you click on any slice of the pie chart, you can verify if source texts and classification categories are consistent.