How does it work?

To include the UCSP-script in your own surveys you should be familiar with JavaScript. The authors can not be held responsible for any problems which this script may cause. You should test the functionality on a variety of different browsers before using it. We put it here to document our own research.

1. Copy the following code somewhere between the headtags
<script src="ucsp_v2.js" type="text/javascript"></script>

2. Save the external JavaScript-file in the same directory of your survey pages

3. Copy the following code after in your questionnaire
  <input name="v_rel" type="hidden" size="150"> <input name="v_abs" type="hidden" size="150"> <input name="v_misc" type="hidden" size="150"> <input name="v_keys" type="hidden" size="150"> <script type="text/javascript"> // set pointer to paradata variables and initialize var p_rel = eval("document.forms[0].v_rel"); var p_abs = eval("document.forms[0].v_abs"); var p_misc = eval("document.forms[0].v_misc"); var p_keystroke = eval("document.forms[0].v_keys"); init_ucsp(); </script>

4. Make sure that the input fields with the paradata are saved within your survey system. Especially long strings of paradata can cause troubles. If you need to change the names of the input fields, remember to change the pointers as well.

2007 by Lars Kaczmirek

The UCSP-Script collection is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Germany License by Wolfgang Neubarth and Lars Kaczmirek. This means your are free to copy, distribute, display, and perform the work and to make derivative works under the condition that you refer to our original work. Any of these conditions can be waived if you get permission from one of the authors. The code is distributed in the hope that it will be useful. It comes without any warranty, even without the implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. You should test the functionality on a variety of different browsers before using it. Remember to inform your pariticpants about what paradata you are going to collect and get informed consent. If you make improvements to the script beyond changing variable names, please send us a copy to help us improve further versions.

Furthermore, we appreciate any copy of derivative works and suggestions. Send an e-mail to


	very good	somewhat good	somewhat bad	very bad
chocolate ice cream

Universal Clientside Paradata (UCSP), Version 2, full example

How good or bad does the following type of icecream taste?

How does it work?