The Ranking component allows respondents to order a list of items by dragging and dropping them into their preferred sequence. This format works well for understanding priorities, preferences, and relative importance.
When to use Ranking
Section titled “When to use Ranking”Ranking is ideal for:
- Priority ordering (most to least important)
- Preference ranking
- Feature prioritization
- Task ordering
- Comparative evaluation
- Any question where relative order matters
Adding a Ranking component
Section titled “Adding a Ranking component”-
Open your form in the editor
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Drag the Ranking component from the left sidebar onto your form
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Click the component to select it and configure its settings
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Add your items in the settings panel
Configuration options
Section titled “Configuration options”Question label
Section titled “Question label”The main question or prompt displayed above the ranking items.
Tips for effective labels:
- Clearly state what should be ranked
- Indicate the ranking direction (most to least, first to last)
Examples:
- “Rank these features from most to least important”
- “Order these tasks by priority (highest first)”
- “Rank your preferences from favorite to least favorite”
Description
Section titled “Description”Optional helper text that appears below the question label.
When to use descriptions:
- To explain the ranking criteria
- To clarify what #1 means (best? first? most important?)
- To provide instructions on how to drag items
Examples:
- “Drag items to reorder. The top item is your highest priority.”
- “Consider which features would have the biggest impact on your work”
- “1 = Most important, 5 = Least important”
Items list
Section titled “Items list”The list of items to be ranked by respondents.
To manage items:
- Click to add new items
- Drag to set the default order
- Click the delete icon to remove items
- Edit item text directly
Tips for items:
- Keep item text concise and clear
- Use parallel structure (all nouns, all phrases, etc.)
- Ensure items are comparable
- Limit to 3-7 items for best usability
Required
Section titled “Required”Toggle whether the ranking must be completed before the form can be submitted.
When enabled:
- An asterisk (*) appears next to the question label
- Users must arrange all items to submit
- A validation message appears if ranking is incomplete
How ranking works
Section titled “How ranking works”Drag and drop
Section titled “Drag and drop”Respondents rank items by:
- Clicking and holding an item
- Dragging it to the desired position
- Releasing to drop it in place
- Repeating until satisfied with the order
Visual feedback
Section titled “Visual feedback”- Items show a drag handle icon
- The dragged item is visually highlighted
- Drop zones indicate where the item will land
- Position numbers update in real-time
Mobile support
Section titled “Mobile support”On touch devices:
- Touch and hold to start dragging
- Drag to reposition
- Release to drop
- Works smoothly on phones and tablets
Tips for effective use
Section titled “Tips for effective use”Limit the number of items. Ranking more than 7 items becomes cognitively difficult. If you have more, consider grouping or using a different approach.
Make items comparable. All items should be the same type of thing (all features, all values, all tasks) so ranking makes sense.
Clarify the ranking direction. Always indicate whether #1 is best/most important or worst/least important.
Use clear, concise item text. Long item descriptions are hard to compare and drag on mobile.
Consider the default order. The initial order can influence responses. Randomizing or using alphabetical order can reduce bias.
Explain the purpose. Help respondents understand why you’re asking for rankings and how the data will be used.
Ranking vs. Rating
Section titled “Ranking vs. Rating”| Aspect | Ranking | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Output | Ordered list | Individual scores |
| Comparison | Forces relative comparison | Items rated independently |
| Ties | Not possible | Possible (same rating) |
| Best for | Understanding priorities | Measuring absolute preference |
| Cognitive load | Higher (must compare all) | Lower (evaluate one at a time) |
Use Ranking when:
- You need to understand relative priorities
- Ties aren’t meaningful
- You have a manageable number of items
Use Rating when:
- Items should be evaluated independently
- Ties are acceptable
- You have many items to evaluate
Accessibility
Section titled “Accessibility”The Ranking component is built with accessibility in mind:
- Keyboard navigation support
- Screen reader compatible
- Clear visual feedback during drag
- Touch-friendly on mobile devices
- Focus states are clearly visible
Handling responses
Section titled “Handling responses”Ranking responses in your form results:
- Show the ordered list as ranked by the respondent
- Include position numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.)
- Can be analyzed for aggregate preferences
- Are included in exports with position data
Analyzing ranking data
Section titled “Analyzing ranking data”Common ways to analyze ranking responses:
- Average position: Calculate the average rank for each item
- First place votes: Count how often each item was ranked #1
- Top 3 frequency: How often each item appears in top 3
- Comparison matrices: How often item A was ranked above item B
Related
- Rating - For star-based ratings
- Linear Scale - For numeric scale ratings
- Multi Choice - For single selection
- Checkboxes - For multiple selection
Need help?
For additional assistance with the Ranking component, check our FAQ section or contact our support team.