<p>There is probably a better way of doing this, but you could probably do this using the block feature in Qualtrics. For example, I often do this when I have several multi-item scales. Each scale is a block. You might randomise item order within a block, but you can also randomise the order of blocks.</p>

<p>So you could group questions (e.g., 1 and 1a) into their own block and then randomise blocks.</p>

<p>See here for info: <a href="https://www.qualtrics.com/support/survey-platform/survey-module/survey-flow/standard-elements/randomizer/" rel="noreferrer">https://www.qualtrics.com/support/survey-platform/survey-module/survey-flow/standard-elements/randomizer/</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-13T09:12:11.557Z
that's what I said! my coprights! +1
AliceD
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-14T19:53:31.197Z
Hey--thanks for the input. One thing that I should have mentioned: I already have several blocks, with different versions of the questions inside of each one (i.e., 1, 1a...3, 3a in one, and 1', 1a'...3', 3a' in another). I'm now in a position where I'm trying to "block within a block," as it were, and then randomize those "blocks within blocks." If you have any knowledge about how I might be able to do that, I'd certainly appreciate it, although I'm not overly confident that I can execute that within the current qualtrics platform.
qjacob
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-23T17:41:13.857Z
Echoing this, if anyone has another solution it would be appreciated -- putting questions into blocks like this is extremely unwieldy.
verybadatthis
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-13T02:01:27.037Z
2017-03-13T02:01:27.037Z
Jeromy Anglim
<p>I have a quick question regarding survey construction that I'm hoping to get some clarification on.</p>

<p>Here's my current survey set-up:</p>

<ul>
<li>Question 1</li>
<li>Question 1a (i.e., a question that relates to information provided in Q1)</li>
<li>Question 2</li>
<li>Question 2a</li>
<li>Question 3</li>
<li>Question 3a</li>
</ul>

<p>...and so on and so forth.</p>

<p>Here's what I'm looking to do: I'd like to present these questions in a random order, <em>however,</em> Question X and Question Xa have to stay together. Is there a way to "glue" related questions together, and randomize presentation of those "glued" pairs within the Qualtrics platform?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-12T20:01:31.547Z
I am unfamiliar with your platform, but in Matlab I would simply split questions and sub-questions in a matrix, where column 1 contains the question numbers (1,2,3...n; with n being # questions) and column 2 the subquestions (1,2,3,,,n). Then randomize the matrix using column 1, collect the identifiers and apply randomization on column 2 /or simply use the number from column 2 and seek and apply them on column 2. Done.
AliceD
<data><survey><study-cognitive-sciences>
How to randomise order of survey items in Qualtrics where some items have to appear together?
qjacob
# How to randomise order of survey items in Qualtrics where some items have to appear together?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-03-12)

I have a quick question regarding survey construction that I'm hoping to get some clarification on.

Here's my current survey set-up:

* Question 1
* Question 1a (i.e., a question that relates to information provided in Q1)
* Question 2
* Question 2a
* Question 3
* Question 3a

...and so on and so forth.

Here's what I'm looking to do: I'd like to present these questions in a random order, *however,* Question X and Question Xa have to stay together. Is there a way to "glue" related questions together, and randomize presentation of those "glued" pairs within the Qualtrics platform?

**Tags:** data, survey, study-cognitive-sciences

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I am unfamiliar with your platform, but in Matlab I would simply split questions and sub-questions in a matrix, where column 1 contains the question numbers (1,2,3...n; with n being # questions) and column 2 the subquestions (1,2,3,,,n). Then randomize the matrix using column 1, collect the identifiers and apply randomization on column 2 /or simply use the number from column 2 and seek and apply them on column 2. Done.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-03-13. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

There is probably a better way of doing this, but you could probably do this using the block feature in Qualtrics. For example, I often do this when I have several multi-item scales. Each scale is a block. You might randomise item order within a block, but you can also randomise the order of blocks.

So you could group questions (e.g., 1 and 1a) into their own block and then randomise blocks.

See here for info: <https://www.qualtrics.com/support/survey-platform/survey-module/survey-flow/standard-elements/randomizer/>

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: that's what I said! my coprights! +1  
> **username_0**: Hey--thanks for the input. One thing that I should have mentioned: I already have several blocks, with different versions of the questions inside of each one (i.e., 1, 1a...3, 3a in one, and 1', 1a'...3', 3a' in another). I'm now in a position where I'm trying to "block within a block," as it were, and then randomize those "blocks within blocks." If you have any knowledge about how I might be able to do that, I'd certainly appreciate it, although I'm not overly confident that I can execute that within the current qualtrics platform.  
> **username_3**: Echoing this, if anyone has another solution it would be appreciated -- putting questions into blocks like this is extremely unwieldy.  

---

