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Your LimeSurvey version: Version 3.17.3+190429
Survey theme/template: Fruity
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Hi everyone,
I would like to randomly allocate participants to one of two groups. Therefore, I have created the hidden first question in order to then randomly assign participants to one of two conditions ({rand(1,2)}.
However, as I have already set a condition (for all questions) to ensure that participants can only respond if they have given their consent at the beginning of the questionnaire, it tells me that I cannot edit the relevance equation for the questions as I have already set out conditions. This is where I would have to type in ((random==1)) or ((random==2)).
Is there a way of adding this relevance equation elsewhere? In the “set conditions” menu for example?
Many thanks,
Sarah

First of all, the formula for the random number is "wrong". Not wrong per sé, as it will generate a random number between 1 and 2. However, this will happen whenever this question is triggered, so the random number might change throught the survey, which I am sure is not what you want.

You should use something like (given that the equation question is called "random" based on your conditions that you show later):
[code]{if(is_empty(random.NAOK), rand(1,2), random.NAOK)}[/quote]

What does this do differently? It also creates a random number between 1 and 2, but only if there hasn't been set a number yet (if the equation question is still empty). If there has been created a random number previously, it will stick to this number. So the random number will be drawn once and then stay the same throughout the whole survey. Otherwise, it could happen that the random number is drawn again for the same respondent, which means you might have different random numbers throughout the survey.

Regarding the consent: I wouldn't do this via conditions, as you need to give EACH question a condition. I would use a zero quota (a quota that allows zero responses for a specific answer), this way you can easily "screen out" people who do give a certain answer (e.g. in your case that do not consent, but it could also be used if you only want male respondents and want to screen out all female respondents or the other way round. Just as an example).

Thank you very much for getting back to me so quickly!

However, since I am technologically challenged I haven't fully understood your randomisation instructions...

Do I write exactly this (just below) in a hidden equation question at the beginning of the survey or do I need to modify part of it?

{if(is_empty(random.NAOK), rand(1,2), random.NAOK)}

Because it is telling me I have unidentified variables and I need to determine whether a variable is empty.

On a tutorial I found it seemed to suggest that I need to generate a random integer using Limesurvey Expression Manager...

Instead of {rand(1,2)} you write the code that I am posting.

"random" stands for the question code of this very specific question. If your's isn't called "random" than you need to adapt it accordingly.

But then the conditions that you mention later, e.g. (random==1) won't make any sense, as you refer to a question called "random" here.

Ok now that the code seems to work, which of the following do I need to write in the relevance equation: (I don't really understand what the .NAOK refers to)

((random.NAOK == 2 ))
OR
((random == 2 ))

NAOK (meaning "No Answer is OK") is used to avoid the issue that a count or a sum of several objects fails if one of them isn't present (because of a filter, because of not answered)
[url] manual.limesurvey.org/ExpressionScript_-...ion/en#Usage_of_NAOK [/url]

So, adding ".NAOK" never is harmful, but not adding it might be harmful.

Joffm