Right now, when creating a poll, the only option available is the "check N checkbox option" style.
This is useful for narrowing down a top favorite, but getting useful feedback can still be tricky.
Two types of polling that could be used to enhance the amount of feedback (e.g. for CI&A and Competition uses) Are:
- Ranking - Useful for putting a small number of entries on a best to worst scale.
the poller would enter each category's name.
The poll would then look like:
| "A" = blah, "B" = blah blah, "C" = blah blah blah, etc. |
| "A" | "B" | "C" | … |
| Which entry is best? (number 1): | _ | _ | _ |
| Which entry is second best : | _ | _ | _ |
| … |
| Which entry is worst: | _ | _ | _ |
- Rating scale - useful for assessing something based on how well it performs in various areas.
Poller would enter the scale (1 to N), at title, and then the names of each category, etc. for each category. The poll would look like:
| On a scale of 1 to 5 (1=best, 5= worst) rate this card based on |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Mechanics: | _ | _ | _ | _ | _ |
| Originality: | _ | _ | _ | _ | _ |
| Overall impression: | _ | _ | _ | _ | _ |
… etc.
These types of polls can be set up under the current polling system, but doing so is a bit clumsy and awkward, and analyzing the results can be difficult. Making them "built-in" would help users to set up better polling to help make the most out of the forums.
Example of using Rating type ranking for helping refine card design:
 | | On a scale of 1 to 5 (1=best, 5= worst) rate this card based on | | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | | Mechanics: | _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | | Originality: | _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | | Overall impression: | _ | _ | _ | _ | _ | | etc... |
|
This type of polling gives back a lot more than just the pass / fail type data we get from the current CI&A polls and would help authors to know what areas their card needs work on.
