my $form = new FormObject( $ref2QuestionsHash, $ref2QuestionsOrderArray ); $form->printForm; $form->validate($ref2UserInput) #### 'data' => [ ['m','male'], ['f','female'], ], #### my $valid = 0; for (my $i=0; $i<=$#{$question->{'data'}};$i++){ if ( $answer eq ${$question->{'data'}}[$i][0] ) { $valid = 1; last; } }