Crosstabs

A crosstab is a table showing the relationship between two or more variables. Crosstabs are used in survey reports to find out interrelationships and interactions between variables.

Methodify users have the ability to use crosstab functionality within their live or closed projects. All filters within the project are used within the crosstab by default. Methodify Go projects allow users to add and modify filters within their report before, during and after project fielding.

How to access Crosstabs

To access crosstabs within your project, follow the steps below: 

• Open the project report you wish to explore
• Find the question report block you want to investigate
• Open the question report bock by clicking on the block
• Use the crosstab toggle to switch to the crosstab table

How to use Crosstabs

Selecting Variables

Use the Show Columns selection area to select the variables you would like to include in the crosstab view. By default all filter variables are selected.

Reading the Table

Crosstabs show how respondents answered a question, broken out by one or more variables. How counts and percentages are calculated depends on whether the table uses a single base size or different base sizes per row (monadic or questions with answer masking).

Table structure

• Column headers display the filter variable names and their answer options (for example, demographics, segments, or groups).

• The first column displays the answer options for the question being analyzed.

• Each data cell could contains the count (number of respondents who selected the answer) and/or the percentage, calculated using the base size for that column depending on how the table is configured.

 

Base sizes and totals

• Total row
  • Displays the total n size for each column.
  • This value represents the base used to calculate percentages when the table uses a single base size.

• Subtotal row (appears when different base sizes are used)
  • Displays the n size of respondents who were asked or qualified for that specific row.
  • This row can be toggled on or off and is used when percentages are calculated from different base sizes per row.

When a table uses a single base size:

• All percentages in a column are calculated using the same total n.

• Percentages within a column may add up to more than 100% if respondents can select more than one answer. (multiple answer and multiple answer grid question types)

• Use counts alongside percentages to understand the scale of responses.

When a table uses different base sizes:

• Percentages are calculated using the subtotal n for each row.

• Percentages within a column will typically total approximately 100%, allowing for rounding.

• Each row should be interpreted independently, using its own base size.

• The subtotal row helps confirm how many respondents contributed to each percentage.

How to interpret the results

• Always read percentages within a single column, not across the entire table.

• Use the displayed n sizes to understand the reliability of the data. Smaller bases can produce larger percentage swings.

• When comparing columns, focus on the same answer option across columns, rather than comparing totals across rows.

• A high percentage with a low count usually indicates a small base size.

• Blank or zero-value cells indicate that no respondents in that column selected the corresponding answer.

Reading crosstabs one column at a time, while paying attention to the base size used for percentages, is the most accurate way to interpret the data.

Sorting Data

To sort data within a column, click on the column heading to sort the data ascending. To sort the data descending click on the column heading again.

 Settings

• Show data as Numbers: The data cells display only the numbers.
• Show data as Percentage: The data cells display only the percentages.
• Show data as Both: The data cells display numbers and percentages.
• Suppress Zero Columns: Hides all columns in the table that have zero counts for all rows.
• Suppress Zero Rows: Hides all rows in the table that have zero counts for all columns.
• Show Overall Total Row: Shows the total n size of the respondents asked the question.
• Show Subtotal Rows: displays the sub total n size for respondents that were asked the question. (The subtotal row toggle only appears on monadic crosstab questions)
• Significance Testing: See Significance Testing Article
• Export to XLS: The current settings view is exported to an Excel file.

 

Nested Banners

There is also the option to include a nested banner, giving users the ability to apply an additional layer to their report’s crosstabs and provide deeper insights into the data. Click here for more information on how to use Nested Banners.