Wide Excel Format

The Wide format presents each respondent as a single row, with each survey question represented as a separate column. This format is particularly useful when you want to:

• Run statistical analysis or modeling in packages like SPSS, R, or Python.

• Use dashboards or BI tools that expect one record per respondent.

• Quickly view all answers for a respondent in one row.

Each row corresponds to one respondent. Each column corresponds to one question or metadata field.

• V001_respondent_id – Unique identifier for each respondent.

• Question columns (V###_...) – Each prefixed with a variable code (V###) followed by a short label. For example:

  • V002_Recent_Restaurant_Visit

  • V003_Age

  • V004_Gender

The last three columns are always:

• Weight column (e.g., V171_weight) – The respondent’s statistical weight.

• Timing columns (e.g., V172_start_time, V173_end_time) – Timestamps recording when the respondent started and completed the survey.

Stored as one column per question with the selected answer recorded.

Each option is represented as a separate column. Values indicate whether the option was selected, and may also include rank order (e.g., -1 = not selected, 1 = selected first, 2 = selected second, etc.).

Stored directly as numeric values (e.g., annual income).

Stored as free-text responses in their own columns.

⚠️ Note: Recoded variables and coded open ends are not included in the Wide format. They are only available in the Long format.

• -1 often denotes an option that was not selected in multi-choice or rank questions.

• Empty cells may indicate a skipped or non-applicable question.

• "Prefer not to say" appears as a standard response category.

• Apply the weight column when analyzing results to ensure the dataset reflects the target population.

• Use variable codes (V###) for merging with codebooks or comparing across formats.

• Treat -1 values consistently as non-selections in analysis.

• For ranked multi-choice questions, filter out -1 and use positive values to analyze the order of selections.

• When comparing across formats, match on reporting_id (long format) to V### codes (wide format).

• Look to the Long format for recoded values and coded open ends, since these are not included in the Wide format.

• For statistical modeling and regressions.

• When using survey data in BI dashboards or visualization tools.

• When analysts want one record per respondent with all answers side by side.