Variable Manager – Score Variable Additional Settings

Data

Once a score variable has been created, there are some advanced settings that can and should be reviewed to help properly prepare your data model. You can of course edit settings configured when first creating the variable (Name, Label, Description, Format, Direction, and Statistical Method). 

 

Note: Not all statistical methods will be available once a variable has been created, since not all variable types function with all method types, and vice versa.

See Variable Manager – Manually Creating a Score Variable

 

Editing a Score Variable

While viewing/editing a score variable, you’ll see 3 vertical panels/areas:

  • Left (Existing Variables) … displays variables available to add. If desired, click one, select a weight, and click Add.
  • Center (display/output) … 
    • Top: The Name and Label are displayed.
    • Middle: The method of processing/generation and existing filters/referenced variables. You can click on a filter to view details about the variable, adjust its weight used for this score variable, or delete.
    • Bottom: Click Data to view values generated by this score variable. You can then refresh the list; search; sort by clicking column headers; select one or more values, and export to CSV or delete.
  • Right (Additional settings) … see below.

 

Advanced Settings

 

  • Use best/worst values … This normalizes the data, by defining a range for the input data. This acts as a kind of safe-guard, so that any outlier data or anomalies do not adversely affect the new score variable. (Remember the Direction settings when determining these values.)
  • Direction … 
    • Ascending (default) … which means a higher number is better.
    • Descending … lower is better (e.g. a faster run time).
  • Include in Objectives … off by default. (See Managing Objectives)
  • Variable Mapping … Mapping links variables at one echelon level up to variables at a higher echelon level in order to analyze data across an entire Module or Organization.
    • If it is not mapped, click the plus sign, and provide a name for it. 
    • If you leave “Module level score only” checked, this mapping will extend up to the module level, but not the organization level. (See Data Mapping)
    • Once created, the mapping will be available for use in other instances.

 

Statistics Settings

This is where to manage statistics processing required for your data model. The total number of statistic definitions (across all groupings) that have been configured will be displayed.

See Variable Manager – Statistics

 

References

Referenced By … Displays the Survey, Observation or other source that references this variable.

References … Displays other variables this variable is based on.

Click Update when done.

 

 

= = = = =

Version(s): GideonSoft 2024 Release 1 and later