Defining quotas prior to version 5.4.0

Use this feature to define a survey task's quotas. In the quotas window, you can insert and manage both external and internal quotas, as well as complex crossed quotas.

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The left-hand pane displays the variables for which quotas have been defined. Its context (right-click) menu contains the following commands:

• Copy: Copy the selected quota cell to the clipboard.

• Paste: Paste the previously copied quota cell from the clipboard.

The following buttons are available:

Furthermore, the Quotas window enables you to specify the following general options:

• Target sample size: Specify the survey task's target sample size.

• Use percentage: Select this option to specify quotas as percentages of the overall target sample size, rather than as absolute numbers.

• Use uncompleted data for quota: If this option is selected, CCA will use incomplete and aborted interview data in its quota management.

• Use in-interview data for quota: Specifies that CCA will take into consideration live interviews which have yet to be completed, in its quota management.

• Send amount "to do" information to agents: Authorizes the survey task's agents to visualize the current status of the quotas and how many interviews remain to be done per quota cell.

To insert a quota, first click one of the following buttons:

A dialog enables you to select the variable for which you wish to define a quota. Once the variable is selected, the right-hand side of the "Quotas" window enables you to specify the following details:

• Target counts: The target number of interviews you require for this particular quota group (for example, you might enter 490 for males to specify that you require 490 men to be interviewed). This option appears only if use percentage is not selected.

• Target percentage: The percentage of the overall interviews that you require to fall into this particular quota group (for example, you might enter 49 for males to specify that you require that 49% of interviewees are male). This option appears only if use percentage is selected.

• Priority: Specify the quota cell's priority level. The following options are available:

  • High: increases the frequency of dispatching of addresses that meet this quota's definition. This priority is only implemented when it is applied to a quota based on Sample list data.

  • Normal: ensures that the quota will be treated normally. This priority is only implemented when it is applied to a quota based on Sample list data.

  • Low: decreases the frequency of dispatching of addresses that meet this quota's definition. This priority is only implemented when it is applied to a quota based on Sample list data.

  • Blocked: blocks the dispatching of addresses meeting this quota's definition.

  • Ignored: the selected quota definition will be ignored.

• Behaviour: Specifies the quota cell's behavior mode. The following options are available:

  • Automatic: CCA will automatically manage the survey task's quotas. CCA will simply display a message to the administrator informing them that a survey task will shortly be stopped as its quotas have been reached.

  • Semi-auto: CCA will manages the survey task's quotas semi-automatically. Once the survey task's quotas have been reached, CCA will display a message to the administrator asking whether the survey task should be stopped, or whether it should continue its field, in spite of quotas.

  • Manual: quotas will be managed manually, from their implementation in askiadesign to their management in CCA. CCA will not inform the administrator as to the status of the survey task's quotas. It will therefore be up to the administrator to stop a survey task once he/she has determined it to be appropriate.