What is the characteristic of derived data fields in a survey?

Derived data fields in a survey are characterized by being fixed once created. This means that after the derived data field is defined and established based on the original survey responses or calculations, it cannot be altered or edited in a way that changes its foundational framework. Derived data fields are designed to represent calculated results from existing data, ensuring that they maintain integrity for reporting and analysis purposes.

While users can generate and utilize derived data fields to perform certain operations or analyses, the foundational rules and values derived from them are immutable, which supports consistency and reliability in the data obtained from surveys. This characteristic is particularly important in longitudinal studies or complex analyses where stability in data representations is necessary for valid conclusions.