Rankings Should Have a Single Variable for Each Option

Ranking questions should be set up with:

• A single variable for each item ranked.
• The most preferred item should be assigned a value of either:
  • 1
  • The number of items being ranked
• The most preferred item should be assigned a value of either:
  • 2
  • The number of items being ranked minus 1
• Etc.
• If ties were permitted, options that were given the equivalent rank should have the same value. For example, if a person was able to choose two options as being most preferred, then both options should have a 1 (or, the number of items being ranked).
• If options that were not shown to a particular respondent (case) should have a missing value
• Where the question asked for an incomplete ranking (e..g, Please choose your favorite, second favorite, and third favorite brand), the items that were shown, but not chosen, should be assigned the same value as each other.