Overview
Auto-scoring simplifies form management by automatically calculating scores based on users’ responses. This feature ensures consistent, accurate results and eliminates the need for manual score entry. When configured, each group of questions can be linked to a scoring trigger, allowing the system to calculate and display a total score once the form is completed.
Required Permissions and Prerequisites
- This article is in reference to our Desktop application
- Relevant staff needing to assign forms to clients will need the View, Modify, Create, and Delete rules for each applicable Q&A form
Relevant staff needing to fill out forms will need the View, Modify, Create, and Delete rules for each applicable Q&A form
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Navigating to Pick List Management
From the top navigation menu, go to:
Administration > Q&A Set Up > Q&A Picklist Management
Any field that includes a score will function with the auto-scoring feature. Controls such as Scale of 1 to 10, Mild / Severe, and Pick Lists with assigned values will automatically generate a score when properly set up.
For Pick Lists specifically, when editing a Pick List in the Q&A Pick List Management, values must be entered in the Misc Value column to enable scoring.
To learn more about setting up picklists in the Pick List Management, check out our How to Setup Q&A Picklists for Form Building article.
Step 2: Setting Up Scoring - Required Columns
Checking the Required Always column option on a question will require it to be answered before moving on to the next question. This ensures questions are answered in order and are not missed.
When Required Once is selected, the question only needs to be answered one time. As a best practice, select Required Always for all scorable questions to ensure the total score is calculated accurately.
Below is an example of how the Q&A form will appear in Desktop or the Portal when either required option is selected. The questions below the current one will appear greyed out and cannot be answered until the current question is completed. Once the current question is answered, the next question will automatically unlock.
Desktop view
Portal view
Client Portal view
Step 3: Setting Up Scoring - Scoring Columns
The Include in Score columns allow you to manage up to ten separate scores. To include a question in a specific group’s total, check the Include in Score # checkbox that corresponds to that group.
In this scenario, we will use a form with four scoring groups, where the fourth is the total score.
Include in Score 1, 2, 3, and 4 should be checked for each group of questions.
Question group set up example when there are 3 total score groups and then a total score for all groups.
Score 1 group shown in yellow
Score 2 group shown in red
Score 3 group shown in green
Score 4 (all groups) shown in blue
Step 4: Setting Up Scoring – Trigger Calc Score Indicator
Each group of questions that requires scoring must include a final group question with a Yes/No control and a Trigger Calc Score selected under the Question Indicator Name dropdown. For reference, this line can look like Group 1 Complete.
In this example, the first group uses Trigger Calc Score 1, the second group uses Trigger Calc Score 2, and the third group uses Trigger Calc Score 3.
Trigger Calc Score 4 will be used on the Form Complete question of the form. This question should use a Yes/No control and have the Form Complete Question column checked. When answered, it will mark the form as completed and serve as a component in calculating the final score.
Step 5: Setting Up Scoring – Score # Question Indicator
The Score # Question Indicator will be set up similarly to the Trigger Calc Score indicators covered in the previous step.
Below each question group’s complete line, there should be a row created for generating the score to appear for that specific group and for the total score.
To do this, create a line below a question group’s complete line (you will need to specify the order number), assign Number with Decimal for the control and assign the appropriate Score # Question for the Question Indicator Name column.
Next, uncheck Active for the score rows, except for the total score row. This will activate a background calculation and will not be seen by who is filling out the form. Once the group complete line is marked as yes, the form will generate the score for that specific group.
To calculate the total score, place a row under the Form Complete row and label it as Total Score. Just like the question groups, assign the Number with Decimal control and Score # Question for the Question Indicator Name.
Desktop view when answering the form
Portal view when completing the form
Client Portal view when completing the form – note that the scoring does not show since we opted to uncheck the active box for the scoring rows.