Code -8 for all options in a question

Question

Hello!
When analysing data after a survey fieldwork is over, I found one record with value -8 in all options in a question.

The list of values in the variables include 1 to 11 as expected and -9 for options not answered.

I didn't find any information about this in the documentation or in the forum either.
Is that something to re-code? Or maybe just code as 'missing'?

Thanks!

Answer 1

-8 is the code for an invalid answer: Encoding and output values

If you offen a selection that allows for the codes 1, 2 or 3, and the browsers sends a "4", then -8 is stored.

One possibility is that a bot tried to answer your questionnaire. That often goes along wih TIME_RSI > 2.

Another possibility is that a user's browser tried for an automated translation of the page (questionnaire), and did also translate the response codes.

There may also be more explanations, but the point is: There is no useful data in this case.

Comments

Thanks so much for the quick and detailed explanation. All is clear now!
Also, sorry I didn't find that information in the help pages.