Guide to creating intelligent surveys with conditional logic and repeating question groups.

Overview

CheckTick allows you to create dynamic surveys that adapt based on user responses through two powerful features:

  1. Branching Logic - Show, skip, or jump to questions based on previous answers
  2. Repeating Questions - Allow users to answer the same group of questions multiple times

These features work together to create sophisticated survey workflows while keeping the user experience simple and intuitive.

Branching Logic

Branching logic (also called conditional logic) lets you control which questions users see based on their previous answers. This creates a personalized survey experience and reduces unnecessary questions.

How It Works

You can add conditions to any question to control when it appears. For example:

  • Show a follow-up question only if someone selects "Yes"
  • Skip past irrelevant questions based on earlier answers
  • Jump ahead to a specific section depending on the response
  • End the survey early for certain answer paths

Types of Actions

When a condition is met, you can choose what happens:

  • Show Question - Display the next question in the sequence
  • Jump to Question - Skip ahead to a specific question
  • Skip Question - Hide the next question and continue
  • End Survey - Complete the survey immediately

Creating Conditions

Using the Web Builder

  1. Navigate to your survey in the builder
  2. Click on any question to edit it
  3. Click "Add Condition" in the conditions section
  4. Choose:
  5. Which previous question to check
  6. What answer triggers the condition
  7. What action to take
  8. Save the condition

You can add multiple conditions to a single question - the survey will check them in order.

Using Text Entry (Bulk Import)

You can also define branching logic using markdown syntax. Add conditions using the -> arrow notation:

## Would you like to provide feedback?
(yesno)
-> Yes : {Feedback details}

## Feedback details
(text_long)
What would you like to tell us?

In this example, the "Feedback details" question only appears if the user answers "Yes" to the first question.

For complete syntax details, see the Import Documentation.

The Branching Visualizer

The survey builder includes a visual Branching Flow diagram that shows your entire survey structure at a glance. This visualizer helps you:

  • See the flow - Understand how questions connect
  • Identify patterns - Spot complex branching paths
  • Catch issues - Notice unreachable questions or logic errors
  • Share understanding - Show stakeholders how the survey works

Reading the Visualizer

The branching visualizer uses a git-graph style to display your survey:

  • Circles represent questions
  • Lines show the default question flow
  • Colored arrows indicate conditional branches:
  • ▶ Show Question
  • Fast-forward icon for Jump to Question
  • ✕ Skip Question
  • ■ End Survey
  • Shaded regions group questions together
  • Badges show condition counts and repeat settings

Questions are organized into their groups, making it easy to see which questions belong together and how they flow.

Repeating Questions

Repeating questions allow users to answer the same set of questions multiple times. This is perfect for:

  • Listing multiple family members
  • Recording several medications
  • Documenting multiple symptoms or conditions
  • Collecting information about multiple items

How It Works

Questions are organized into groups. Any group can be marked as repeating, allowing users to add as many instances as they need (or up to a maximum limit you set).

For example, a "Medications" group might contain: - Medication name - Dosage - Frequency - Side effects

Users can add this information once for each medication they take.

Setting Up Repeats

Using the Groups View

  1. Go to the Groups view in your survey
  2. Find the group you want to make repeatable
  3. Click "Set Repeat"
  4. Choose:
  5. Unlimited repeats - Users can add as many as needed
  6. Limited repeats - Set a maximum number (e.g., "up to 5")
  7. Save your changes

The group will now show a repeat badge with the count or ∞ symbol for unlimited.

Using Text Entry (Bulk Import)

Mark a collection (group) as repeating using the REPEAT keyword:

# Medications
REPEAT

## Medication name
(text)

## Dosage
(text)

## Frequency
(mc_single)
- Once daily
- Twice daily
- Three times daily
- As needed

For a limited repeat count, use REPEAT-5 (or any number).

Repeats in the Visualizer

When viewing the branching flow diagram, repeating groups are clearly marked with a repeat badge showing: - A circular arrow icon - The maximum repeat count (or ∞ for unlimited)

This makes it easy to see which parts of your survey can be repeated.

Combining Branching and Repeats

The real power comes from combining these features. For example:

  1. Ask if someone has children (Yes/No)
  2. If Yes, show a repeating group for child details
  3. Within each child's questions, use branching logic for age-specific questions

This creates sophisticated surveys that feel simple to users - they only see relevant questions and can provide as much or as little detail as needed.

Follow-up Text Inputs

A special type of branching is the follow-up text input attached to specific options. This is perfect for "Other (please specify)" or "Yes (please explain)" scenarios.

Follow-up inputs appear immediately below the option when selected, making the connection clear to users.

Adding Follow-ups

Using the Web Builder

When editing question options, you can enable a follow-up text field for any option and customize its label.

Using Text Entry

Use the + symbol on an indented line after an option:

## How did you hear about us?
(mc_single)
- Search engine
- Social media
- Friend or colleague
- Advertisement
- Other
  + Please specify where

Best Practices

Branching Logic

  • Keep it simple - Too many conditions can confuse both you and your users
  • Test thoroughly - Use the visualizer to check for logic errors
  • Provide escape routes - Don't trap users in impossible situations
  • Consider mobile - Complex branching should still work on small screens

Repeating Questions

  • Set sensible limits - Unlimited repeats are flexible but can create very long surveys
  • Group logically - Only related questions should repeat together
  • Provide clear labels - Users should understand what they're repeating
  • Consider data analysis - Think about how you'll analyze multiple responses

General Tips

  • Use the visualizer - It's your best tool for understanding and debugging survey flow
  • Start simple - Add branching gradually as you understand your needs
  • Test with real users - What seems clear to you might confuse others
  • Document your logic - Use question descriptions to explain why conditions exist

Technical Details

For developers and technical users who need to understand the implementation, see the Branching Logic - Technical Guide which covers:

  • Database models and relationships
  • API endpoints and data structures
  • Implementation details
  • Testing considerations