Reference Data Question

Reference Data question type is used to collect validated zip code data against “standardized” databases.

You can ask respondents to enter their zip/postal code and the entered value is checked with the database. If correct, the city/state is displayed and respondents can continue with the survey. If incorrect, they will be asked to enter a valid zip/postal code.

To add a reference data type question, go to Surveys » Edit » Workspace

• Click on the Add Question button.

• Under Advanced, select Reference Data question type to add this question.

• The question will get added to your survey. When respondents enter the zip/postal code, it will be validated against our database.

Currently, zip/postal code databases are available and supported for the following countries:

• Australia
• Brazil
• Canada
• France
• Germany
• Japan
• UK
• United States
• Belgium

By default, United States postal code database is selected.

To change, please click on the Settings link for the question and select the country from the list. By default, the question is not required to be answered. If you want to validate this question, please mark this question as required.

Most countries do not make their zip/postal codes available free of charge. For example, in order to import the UK postal database, we would have to pay the Royal Postal Service over 20,000 USD. If you are from a country that has officially made the postal code/zip code database publicly available, please send us the URL/site. We may incorporate/import that data and make it available as part of our standard databases.

We periodically update our databases and make sure they are up-to-date with the latest changes. However, zip/postal codes are regularly added/changed by countries. If you know that a zip code is not validated properly, please contact support and let us know. We will update our database to reflect that change.