Usage Notes

Data File Structure for K-Alpha Calculator

Format Specifications

The data file should adhere to the following specifications:

• File Type: The file must be in a .csv (Comma-Separated Values) format. The separator must be a comma (,) or a semicolon (;). Tab or other separators are not allowed.

• Layout and Content: Data should be organized in a matrix format where:

  • Rows represent individual items rated.

  • Columns correspond to the raters providing the codes.

  • Rate values must be represented numerically. Decimals are not allowed.

  • Data should be nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio.

  • ‘NA’ (without quotation marks) represents a missing value. Empty cells are not allowed.

  • The file should not contain any headers, footers, or empty spaces.

  • Not include the names of the items or the names of the raters.

  • Only one data file can be uploaded at a time; it must not exceed 500KB.

Example Structure

Consider a scenario with 5 items, 4 raters, and 3 categories represented by the values 1, 2, 3 (nominal data).​ The data file should comprise 5 rows (one for each item) and 4 columns (one for each rater). The cell values denote the rates assigned. An example representation is as follows:

1,1,1,1

2,2,3,2

3,3,3,3

3,3,3,3

2,2,2,2

Missing Values

When a rater has not assigned a rate to an item, the corresponding cell should be marked as ‘NA’ (without quotation marks). For example, if rater 3 did not assign a rate to item 1 and rater 2 did not assign a rate to item 4, the data file should appear as follows:

1,1,NA,1

2,2,3,2

3,3,3,3

3,NA,3,3

2,2,2,2

Sample Data Files

Both files reflect a scenario with 12 items, 4 raters, 5 categories represented by the values 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (nominal data), and several missing values with NA codes.​ The sample data files below report the exemplary calculations provided by Krippendorff (2019, p. 304).

• CSV File: This file represents the data structure without headers. You can download it here: rating_data_sample.csv

• XLSX File: This version includes headers with raters' and items' names for clarity, which is particularly useful when viewing in spreadsheet software. You can download it here: rating_data_sample.xlsx
  IMPORTANT: The XLSX files should be exported from the spreadsheet software in .csv format, removing the headers (the first row in the file) and the first column with the items' names before saving.  Also, check that the exported file uses a comma (,) or a semicolon (;) as the separator. Tab or other separators are not allowed.

Data Privacy

As the authors and maintainers of the K-Alpha Calculator, we are committed to preserving high standards of ethical conduct in data management and user privacy.
We assure users that all data input into the K-Alpha Calculator remains exclusively within the user's domain, as the calculator operates entirely on the client side. This means it functions solely within the user's browser environment, guaranteeing that no data is retained, stored, or transmitted to external servers or storage systems.

For users who prefer to work offline on their PC, a standalone version of the K-Alpha Calculator is also available as a .exe file for Windows - Download Here