Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-2016

Publication Source

Survey Practice

Abstract

This study examined a novel paper-based ranking system (called the BINS format) that was designed to address two limitations of traditional ranking formats. This new system allows respondents to: 1) assign ties to ranked alternatives and 2) indicate distance between ranked alternatives. Participants reported high satisfaction with the ability to express ties using the BINS format, and preferred to use a ranking format that allowed for ties over a format that did not. Two versions of the BINS format (a numbered continuum and an unnumbered continuum) were compared to examine participants’ perception of the distance between ranked alternatives. When a numbered continuum was used, participants saw the relationship between ranked alternatives as both multiplicative and divisible; conversely, participants using the unnumbered continuum did not see either relationship. This lends support to the notion that participants perceived the numbered BINS format as having equal psychological intervals.

ISBN/ISSN

2168-0094

Document Version

Published Version

Comments

The document is made available for download in compliance with the publisher's open-access policy. Permission documentation is on file. Any information used from this publication must be properly attributed. For more information, see the journal website.

Publisher

American Association for Public Opinion Research

Volume

9

Issue

3

Peer Reviewed

yes


Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

COinS