Straight-liner Detection
Detect respondents who select the same option for every row of a matrix question, a classic sign of careless answering.
A straight-liner is a respondent who picks the same column for every row of a matrix question — for example, selecting "neither agree nor disagree" on all ten rows of a Likert scale. It's a clear signal that the respondent isn't actually reading the items, and it dramatically degrades data quality.
Detection targets
Straight-liner detection is automatically applied to the following matrix question types:
- MTX_SA (Single-answer matrix)
- MTX_SCALE (Scale matrix — Likert, NPS, etc.)
MTX_MA (Multiple-answer matrix) is not targeted because its selection patterns are too complex to classify as "straight-lining".
Detection logic
If every row of a single matrix question selects exactly one column, the response is flagged as a straight-liner.
- The logic is the same regardless of whether row randomization is enabled
- Combining with polarity-reversed items (where the positive / negative direction flips mid-way) improves accuracy
When it helps
- Employee engagement surveys with many matrix questions
- Brand image surveys where careless answers can skew the results
- Incentive-driven panel surveys where fast, careless completions are common
Flag management
Detected responses progress through pending → confirmed / dismissed states. Use the Flags tab on the monitoring screen to review each one. See Flag Management & Exclusion for details.