> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.dscout.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.dscout.com/diary-studies/what-are-diary-studies-in-dscout/question-types-in-diary-studies.md).

# Question types in diary studies

In a diary study, you can ask questions in a variety of formats. Here are the types of questions diary studies support:

## Checkpoint

Give participants a breather or additional context without asking a question.

## Media

* **Photo:** PNG and JPEG files accepted
* **Video:** MP4 and MOV files accepted with a max recording length of 5 minutes.
* **Screen recording:** Ask participants to record their phone's screen for up to 5 minutes. (Screen recording questions count as a video question).

Learn more about our media limits [here](/study-basics/design-a-mission/media-limits.md).

## Open-ended

Ask participants for an open-ended response.

* **140 characters:** Limit participants to 140 characters for their response.
* **No limit:** Do not apply a character limit to the question response.

*Extra for experts: apply the "Headline" marker to a 140-character question to give each entry a title! This changes the entry title from the date + time the entry was submitted to the participant's response!*

## Multiple choice

* **Single select:** Limit participants to 1 answer option.
* **Multiple select:** Allow participants to select multiple answer options.

*Randomize choices:* Use this to present multiple choice answer options in a random order to participants.

*"Other (Tap to Type)":* Use this to provide a write-in response option. Note that this option will always be anchored at the bottom of the list even when randomization is used.

*"None of the Above":* Use this to allow participants to select "None of the Above." It will be excluded from randomization and cannot be chosen in combination with other response options.

## Ranking

Ask participants to rank your answer options *(e.g. rank the following pizza toppings from best \[1] to worst \[6]).*

* **Rank all:** Ask participants to rank *all* of the answer options listed.
* **Custom limit:** Ask participants to rank at least *x* number of answer options, at most *x* number of answer options, or exactly *x* number of answer options listed.

*Randomize rank choices:* Use this to present rank choice answer options in a random order to participants.

*"Other (Tap to Type)":* Use this to provide a write-in response option. Note that this option will always be anchored at the bottom of the list even when randomization is used.

*"Participants can mark rank options as N/A":* For "Rank all" ranking questions, use this to allow participants to mark any rank choices that are not relevant to them as "not applicable." This option is not available for "Custom limit" ranking questions.

## Number

Ask participants to provide a number, up to 9 digits long. (Be sure to specify the unit in your question prompt).

## Scale

Provide participants with a numerical scale for ratings. Scale questions allow you to specify a scale as large as 0-100.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** [Stimuli](/study-basics/question-types/question-stimuli.md) can be applied to any question, and [skip logic](/study-basics/design-a-mission/skip-logic-in-diary-studies.md) can be applied to all question types except for checkpoints.
{% endhint %}


---

# Agent Instructions
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## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://help.dscout.com/diary-studies/what-are-diary-studies-in-dscout/question-types-in-diary-studies.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

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Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.