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Survey Software from WISCO Computing
WISCO Survey - Numeric Rank Survey Questions

Numeric Rank questions provide a list of items to rank. The Numeric Rank question type (7) allows up to 9 text choices. Numeric Rank - Huge (Question Type 20) allows up to 25 text choices. A numeric rank question compares one text choices to the other text choices. Only one item can be ranked first. Ranking questions do not allow duplicate values. This question type calculates the top 5 ranks.

The Numeric Rank question is similar to Multiple scale question type. Both save values for each part of the survey question. A Multiple scale question allows duplicate values, because the choices are not compared to the other choices in the question.

Ranking more than the top 3 items usually results in careless selections. It is best to have the respondent select the highest 3 ranks, and then let the software calculate the final rankings (importance) from all selections and respondents. A Numeric Rank question ranks the item with the highest ranking 1. The numerical spinner would be set to 3 to rank the 3 highest items.

If the check box on the Survey Titles/Headings tab is checked to reverse all scales, the check box for individual questions will be unavailable and ignored.

Create Survey Question

  1. Enter survey question text.
  2. Choose question type 7 or 20 Numeric Rank.
  3. Enter your text choices.
  4. Click the Options/Values tab.
  5. WIth the spinner, set the maximum Rank that will be used in the calculations.
  6. Enter Question Topic.

Collect Survey Responses

survey rank importance

Filtered Analysis

numeric rank filter

With this example, Q. 7 indicates this is question number 7. The A indicates text choice A. The (V) indicates an numeric value needs to be entered in the 'Matching:' edit box match will be performed. 'Travel Agency Importance' is the question 7 topic. 'Agency Location' is the choice topic for selection A. The value 12 in the edit box indicate you want totals for all surveys if the respondent ranked Agency Location as most important either 1 or 2 for this question.

Importance (used with Rank Order Questions)

Importance is determined by the rank of the item and the number of respondents selecting an item and rank. From a list of items, a respondents ranks items, first, second, third, etc. Importance is calculated by assigning points to the rank for each item, with the highest ranking item receiving the highest number of points. For each respondent, a first place rank is assigned the maximum number of points, second place is assigned (Maximum-1), third place is assigned (Maximum-2), etc. Then the points are added to determine the importance. The formula used for the Importance Percentage = (Max-Average)*(100/(Max-1)). The Importance Percentage always includes the percentage symbol, ignoring the optional Preference setting.

With this simple example, respondents are choosing their top 3 choices. A first place rank is assigned 3 points, 2nd rank = 2 points, and 3rd rank = 1 point.

FruitsRespondent ARespondent BRespondent CImportanceAverage
Avocado1 = 3 points 3 points = 33%1.0
Apple 2 = 2 points 2 points = 22%2.0
Banana 1 = 3 points2 = 2 points5 points = 56%1.5
Orange2 = 2 points3 = 1 point1 = 3 points6 points = 67%2.0
Pear3 = 1 point 3 = 1 point2 points = 22%3.0

The orange is the most important choice (6 points), even though two other choices (Avocado and Banana) have higher average rankings. Based on this sample, if you were buying fruit for a cafeteria, would you base your buying decision on the highest average ranking (Avocado = 1.00) or the highest importance (Orange = 6 points)?