Multiple choice Questions

[andrew roder]

Dear All,

I would appreciate your support in creating separate variables for the multiple-choice questions collected in the survey. Currently, the responses are captured in a single row. We would like to convert each response option into a separate variable and code them as binary values (0/1), where 1 indicates the option was selected and 0 indicates it was not, based on the responses already collected.

Please let me know if this is feasible and how best we can proceed.

Thank you for your support, below is the variable and the responses under that variable

* Example generated by -dataex-. For more info, type help dataex
clear
input str219 Whatskillsdoyouhavethatare
"Communication skills (public speaking, persuasion, conflict resolution), Creative skills (music, art, writing, storytelling), Entrepreneurial skills (selling, marketing, side-business experience)"
"Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others), Sports or physical skills"
"Communication skills (public speaking, persuasion, conflict resolution), Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others)"
"Communication skills (public speaking, persuasion, conflict resolution), Digital skills (video editing, graphic design, social media management), Problem-solving skills (finding solutions quickly, troubleshooting)"
"Communication skills (public speaking, persuasion, conflict resolution), Digital skills (video editing, graphic design, social media management), Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making)"
"Problem-solving skills (finding solutions quickly, troubleshooting), Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others), Household or caregiving skills (childcare, elder care, cooking)"
"Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others), Community engagement skills (volunteering, event coordination), Household or caregiving skills (childcare, elder care, cooking)"
"Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others), Community engagement skills (volunteering, event coordination)"
"Problem-solving skills (finding solutions quickly, troubleshooting), Negotiation or mediation skills, Household or caregiving skills (childcare, elder care, cooking)"
"Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others), Sports or physical skills"
"Entrepreneurial skills (selling, marketing, side-business experience), Problem-solving skills (finding solutions quickly, troubleshooting), Financial management skills (saving, budgeting, informal business skills)"
"Technical skills (fixing appliances, basic coding, repairs), Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Community engagement skills (volunteering, event coordination)"
"Communication skills (public speaking, persuasion, conflict resolution), Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Problem-solving skills (finding solutions quickly, troubleshooting)"
"Communication skills (public speaking, persuasion, conflict resolution), Entrepreneurial skills (selling, marketing, side-business experience), Negotiation or mediation skills"
"Negotiation or mediation skills"
"Creative skills (music, art, writing, storytelling), Entrepreneurial skills (selling, marketing, side-business experience), Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others)"
"Community engagement skills (volunteering, event coordination)"
"Creative skills (music, art, writing, storytelling), Entrepreneurial skills (selling, marketing, side-business experience), Cultural or traditional skills (crafts, performing arts, local knowledge)"
"Digital skills (video editing, graphic design, social media management)"
"Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Entrepreneurial skills (selling, marketing, side-business experience), Problem-solving skills (finding solutions quickly, troubleshooting)"
"Creative skills (music, art, writing, storytelling), Technical skills (fixing appliances, basic coding, repairs)"
"Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others), Negotiation or mediation skills, Community engagement skills (volunteering, event coordination)"
"Creative skills (music, art, writing, storytelling), Digital skills (video editing, graphic design, social media management), Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others)"
"Household or caregiving skills (childcare, elder care, cooking), "
"Entrepreneurial skills (selling, marketing, side-business experience)"
"Communication skills (public speaking, persuasion, conflict resolution), Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others), Community engagement skills (volunteering, event coordination)"
"Household or caregiving skills (childcare, elder care, cooking)"
"Communication skills (public speaking, persuasion, conflict resolution), Problem-solving skills (finding solutions quickly, troubleshooting), Community engagement skills (volunteering, event coordination)"
"Communication skills (public speaking, persuasion, conflict resolution), Digital skills (video editing, graphic design, social media management), Technical skills (fixing appliances, basic coding, repairs)"
"Problem-solving skills (finding solutions quickly, troubleshooting), Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others)"
"Household or caregiving skills (childcare, elder care, cooking)"
"Problem-solving skills (finding solutions quickly, troubleshooting), Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others), Negotiation or mediation skills"
"Communication skills (public speaking, persuasion, conflict resolution), Technical skills (fixing appliances, basic coding, repairs), Problem-solving skills (finding solutions quickly, troubleshooting)"
"Sports or physical skills"
"Creative skills (music, art, writing, storytelling), Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others), Sports or physical skills"
"Sports or physical skills"
"Problem-solving skills (finding solutions quickly, troubleshooting)"
"Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Negotiation or mediation skills, Sports or physical skills"
"Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others), Sports or physical skills, Household or caregiving skills (childcare, elder care, cooking)"
"Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others), Financial management skills (saving, budgeting, informal business skills), Household or caregiving skills (childcare, elder care, cooking)"
"Communication skills (public speaking, persuasion, conflict resolution)"
"Cultural or traditional skills (crafts, performing arts, local knowledge)"
"Sports or physical skills"
"Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Entrepreneurial skills (selling, marketing, side-business experience), Problem-solving skills (finding solutions quickly, troubleshooting)"
"Community engagement skills (volunteering, event coordination)"
"Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others), Sports or physical skills, Household or caregiving skills (childcare, elder care, cooking)"
"Problem-solving skills (finding solutions quickly, troubleshooting), Negotiation or mediation skills, "
"Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making)"
"Household or caregiving skills (childcare, elder care, cooking)"
"Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making)"
"Creative skills (music, art, writing, storytelling), Digital skills (video editing, graphic design, social media management), Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others)"
"Community engagement skills (volunteering, event coordination), Sports or physical skills"
"Creative skills (music, art, writing, storytelling), Entrepreneurial skills (selling, marketing, side-business experience), Household or caregiving skills (childcare, elder care, cooking)"
"Entrepreneurial skills (selling, marketing, side-business experience)"
"Sports or physical skills, Household or caregiving skills (childcare, elder care, cooking)"
"Problem-solving skills (finding solutions quickly, troubleshooting)"
"Creative skills (music, art, writing, storytelling)"
"Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others), Negotiation or mediation skills"
"Communication skills (public speaking, persuasion, conflict resolution), Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making)"
"Communication skills (public speaking, persuasion, conflict resolution), Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Household or caregiving skills (childcare, elder care, cooking)"
"Creative skills (music, art, writing, storytelling), Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others), Household or caregiving skills (childcare, elder care, cooking)"
"Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others), Sports or physical skills, Household or caregiving skills (childcare, elder care, cooking)"
"Financial management skills (saving, budgeting, informal business skills), Household or caregiving skills (childcare, elder care, cooking), "
"Digital skills (video editing, graphic design, social media management), Sports or physical skills"
"Communication skills (public speaking, persuasion, conflict resolution), Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Negotiation or mediation skills"
"Communication skills (public speaking, persuasion, conflict resolution), Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others)"
"Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Problem-solving skills (finding solutions quickly, troubleshooting), Negotiation or mediation skills"
"Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others), Negotiation or mediation skills"
"Communication skills (public speaking, persuasion, conflict resolution), Creative skills (music, art, writing, storytelling), Digital skills (video editing, graphic design, social media management)"
"Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Problem-solving skills (finding solutions quickly, troubleshooting), Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others)"
"Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others)"
"Creative skills (music, art, writing, storytelling), Digital skills (video editing, graphic design, social media management), Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others)"
"Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Problem-solving skills (finding solutions quickly, troubleshooting), Community engagement skills (volunteering, event coordination)"
"Digital skills (video editing, graphic design, social media management)"
"Household or caregiving skills (childcare, elder care, cooking)"
"Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others), Community engagement skills (volunteering, event coordination), Cultural or traditional skills (crafts, performing arts, local knowledge)"
"Cultural or traditional skills (crafts, performing arts, local knowledge)"
"Digital skills (video editing, graphic design, social media management)"
"I am certified by Europe 3 Rescue as White water and flood rescue instructor "
"Creative skills (music, art, writing, storytelling), Technical skills (fixing appliances, basic coding, repairs), Negotiation or mediation skills"
"Dancing "
"Creative skills (music, art, writing, storytelling), Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Problem-solving skills (finding solutions quickly, troubleshooting)"
"Communication skills (public speaking, persuasion, conflict resolution), Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Financial management skills (saving, budgeting, informal business skills)"
"Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others)"
"Financial management skills (saving, budgeting, informal business skills), Sports or physical skills"
"Household or caregiving skills (childcare, elder care, cooking)"
"Communication skills (public speaking, persuasion, conflict resolution), Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Entrepreneurial skills (selling, marketing, side-business experience)"
"teaching "
"Technical skills (fixing appliances, basic coding, repairs), Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others)"
"Communication skills (public speaking, persuasion, conflict resolution), Entrepreneurial skills (selling, marketing, side-business experience), Problem-solving skills (finding solutions quickly, troubleshooting)"
"Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others), Community engagement skills (volunteering, event coordination), Financial management skills (saving, budgeting, informal business skills)"
"Communication skills (public speaking, persuasion, conflict resolution), Creative skills (music, art, writing, storytelling), Technical skills (fixing appliances, basic coding, repairs)"
"Creative skills (music, art, writing, storytelling)"
"Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others), Community engagement skills (volunteering, event coordination), Household or caregiving skills (childcare, elder care, cooking)"
"Creative skills (music, art, writing, storytelling), Digital skills (video editing, graphic design, social media management), Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others)"
"Entrepreneurial skills (selling, marketing, side-business experience)"
"Entrepreneurial skills (selling, marketing, side-business experience)"
"Problem-solving skills (finding solutions quickly, troubleshooting), Emotional intelligence (empathy, listening, supporting others), Household or caregiving skills (childcare, elder care, cooking)"
"Leadership skills (team motivation, organizing people, decision-making), Problem-solving skills (finding solutions quickly, troubleshooting), Financial management skills (saving, budgeting, informal business skills)"
"Sports or physical skills"
end
[/CODE]
------------------ copy up to and including the previous line ------------------

Thank you in advance

[Mike Lacy]

The following creates binary variables that indicate the presence/absence of each possible response. Each variable will be identified and named using a distinct part of the string for each possible response. I've illustrated this for only 4 responses, so you'll need to expand the list to include all the possibilities. The trick of making this work is to select strings for each local that are only present in each distinct response. I think I've done that, but you'd need to be careful. I recently dealt with data like this that a colleague obtained using a common online questionnaire system that defaults to creating long response strings like this in the data set it saves. My recollection is that it's fairly easy to avoid this in setting up the questionnaire form.

// Capitalization is a nuisance
replace Whatskillsdoyouhavethatare = lower(Whatskillsdoyouhavethatare)
//
// Create locals that hold a distinct string identifying each possible response.
// Expand this to include all possible terms.
local possible1 = "communication"
local possible2 = "creative"
local possible3 = "emotional "
local possible4 = "entrepreneurial"
forval i = 1/4 {
   gen byte `possible`i'' = strpos(Whatskillsdoyouhavethatare, "`possible`i''") > 0
}

[Daniel Schaefer]

Here is another approach. Mike's solution in #2 is nice because it is easy to understand and easy to implement. My solution is perhaps a bit more difficult to follow. However, I automate the process of selecting the important skill strings, which might reduce the tedium of selecting strings and any human error associated with that process. I make some assumptions about the strings, especially that the same skills use exactly the same string representation.

gen skills = trim(ustrregexra(Whatskillsdoyouhavethatare, "\(([^)]*)\)", "", .))
split skills, parse(",")
drop skills
local unique_skills = ""
foreach skill of varlist skills* {
    replace `skill' = trim(`skill')
    replace `skill' = strtoname(`skill')
    qui levelsof `skill', local(levels)
    foreach level in `levels' {
        if !strpos("`unique_skills'", "`level'") {
            local unique_skills = "`unique_skills' `level'"
        }
    }
}
foreach skill in `unique_skills' {
    gen `skill' = 0
    foreach var of varlist skills* {
        replace `skill' = 1 if `var' == "`skill'"
    }
}