We would analyze this as a single variable that can take the integer values from 1 to 5. While there is a wide variety of structured response formats, there are relatively few unstructured ones. Generally, it's written text. These can vary from short comment boxes to the transcript of an interview. In almost every short questionnaire, there's one or more short text field questions.
Transcripts are an entirely different matter.
There, the transcriber has to decide whether to transcribe every word or only record major ideas, thoughts, quotes, etc. Purchase the complete printed text of the Knowledge Base online Research Methods Knowledge Base, 2nd edition.