Multiple Choice polls

[InfiniteNow]

Maybe when a poll allows multiple choices, you could remove the percentage calculator. It doesn't make too much sense the way it is now.

Even better would be to replace the percentages with a bar graph of each choice, normalized against the highest chosen number (i.e. the limit of the y-axis).

Just a thought.


Cheers.

[pgrmdave]

I disagree - I think that it does make sense, it simply has to be viewed in terms of having multiple choices - just because two options each have 50% doesn't mean that 100% of the voters chose one of them.

[InfiniteNow]

When I said it doesn't make much sense, it was more to represent that nothing can be greater than 100%, so the math of it all falls apart and the numbers become arbitrary. Thazall.

[Jay-qu]

I doesnt go above 100% does it? I just thought it change to represent out of all the voters the % that voted for that one particular choice - and that makes sense..

[InfiniteNow]

Originally Posted by Jay-qu

I doesnt go above 100% does it?

Sure does.

[Racoon]

Originally Posted by pgrmdave

I disagree - I think that it does make sense, it simply has to be viewed in terms of having multiple choices - just because two options each have 50% doesn't mean that 100% of the voters chose one of them.

I strangely find myself agreeing with pgrmdave...
No one category can exceed 100%

multiple choices obviously allows the percentages to be viewed differently, than if only 1 vote was allowed...

[InfiniteNow]

Example Poll:

Do you prefer Apples or Oranges?

Apples: 90%
Oranges: 90%

Wtf does that mean? It means 180% of voters made no difference in answering the question.

[Racoon]

Originally Posted by InfiniteNow

Example Poll:

Do you prefer Apples or Oranges?

Apples: 90%
Oranges: 90%

Wtf does that mean? It means 180% of voters made no difference in answering the question.

It means 9 out of 10 "like" apples
and 9 out of 10 "like" oranges...

That wouldn't be a multiple choice queston IN... What do you prefer??
1 vote.
I'm beginning to question your polling logic

[InfiniteNow]

Funny the passion I feel toward this. Never did I expect anyone to question the logic of my proposition.

When voting, a percentage is representative of the total number of voters being in the denominator. When one voter can make multiple selections, the pertage loses it's meaning because the calculation is no longer standardized. One voter might vote for one thing. However, if another voter chooses five, they are represented more and the percentage shown is skewed. This also allows the total to be greater than 100%, which is nonsensical.

The question that a poll's percentages are meant to answer is, "Out of those who voted, this percentage of voters chose this option over all others." When they have multiple choices, the percentages cease to mean anything.

[Racoon]

Originally Posted by InfiniteNow

Funny the passion I feel toward this. Never did I expect anyone to question the logic of my proposition.

When voting, a percentage is representative of the total number of voters being in the denominator. When one voter can make multiple selections, the pertage loses it's meaning because the calculation is no longer standardized. One voter might vote for one thing. However, if another voter chooses five, they are represented more and the percentage shown is skewed. This also allows the total to be greater than 100%, which is nonsensical.

The question that a poll's percentages are meant to answer is, "Out of those who voted, this percentage of voters chose this option over all others." When they have multiple choices, the percentages cease to mean anything.

Right IN, which is why no 1 category can exceed 100%!!

But with multiple choice you vote can vote more than 1 category!

like with the latest multi-vote poll...
50% have cats
50% have dogs.
But there are also other pets.

50% have cats, and out of those, some have another animal...say a Tarantula. (11%)? and/or a dog.

I don't know why this is difficult for you to understand...


I must be missing something.

If you were the only one voting on a multi-vote poll...example:
What fruit(s) do you "like"?
Apple
Orange
Banana

say you voted Apple and Banana:

it means 100% (you) of the voters(so far) like Apples and Bananas

Apple...100%
Orange...0%
Banana...100%

shaking my head...