In this article we cover:
- How to create a basic numeric poll
- Using a minimum & maximum value
- Using decimal places
- Setting up a correct answer & explanation
- Including a margin of error
- Display your poll results in a column, number cloud or ordered list
- Showing mean, median & mode averages
Numeric polls let participants enter any number as a response. They are available on all Starter plans and above and display results in a column chart by default. To use the number cloud or ordered list display, you’ll need to upgrade to a Pro plan or higher.
To create a basic numeric poll follow these steps:
In the Polls section select the '+ Create new' button and select Numeric as the poll type.
Enter the 'Question title' or question of your poll. It is optional to add rich text formatting (bold, underline, italics paragraph break) to the question title.
If you prefer, add an image to the poll question by clicking on the picture icon. Either upload a preferred image from your computer or use the built-in library of licensed images. (If you have a Free account, you will not have access to this feature.)
Enter the Maximum and Minimum values you would like your participants to vote between by typing in the relevant numbers. If you want to give participant limitless answer options, toggle the ‘Set range’ to off (greyed out).
Decide if participants can use decimal numbers in their responses and if you want to set a correct answer.
Choose between a column chart, a number cloud or ordered list display.
Press 'Create'.
When you choose to set up a numeric poll your poll card will look like this:
1. Minimum & Maximum value
With numeric polls, you can allow participants to enter any number within the range that you specify. In this example, participants can only enter a numeric value between 25 - 55. The minimum & maximum value will automatically be specified on the participants' mobile devices below the question. If you want to give participants the freedom to respond with any numbers, toggle the ‘Set range’ to off, to create an open numeric question. You can also use a negative range, with numbers like -10,000 as minimum and use a positive range 2300 as a maximum.
2. Using decimal places
When you select the decimal places box, you can allow participants to answer their numeric poll with up to ten decimal places. In this example above, we did not use decimal places and kept it at zero.
3. Correct answer & explanation
Simply toggle the correct answer button to enable this and then enter the value of the correct answer. In the above example, we specified the answer as 42. A correction mark will indicate the correct answer in Present view as well as on participants apps. It is optional to add a correct answer explanation in the box provided. This will also appear on the participant app after the poll has been closed and the right answer revealed.
4. Including a margin of error
As an extra option, you can enter in a margin of error for the correct answer. The margin of error means that participants that answer above or below the correct answer within this margin of error will also get the answer correct and a point allocated. If we selected the margin of error of 2, and the answer is 42, then all answers from 40-44 would be accepted.
5. Displaying results in a column chart, number cloud or ordered list
By default, all numeric poll results are displayed in a column chart. But they can also be displayed in a number cloud of ordered list bar you have a Pro plan or higher.
Once the poll is closed, use the interactive chart to highlight the actual number of votes received for a number.
In the number cloud, participant responses are displayed in varying sizes based on their frequency or importance—the more frequently a number is submitted, the larger and bolder it will be. Read how to create a number cloud.
The ordered list display ranks responses from most to least frequent, showing the percentage of participants who voted for each number. Remember to choose the ordered list display when setting up your poll to ensure your your data result image also display the ordered list.
While the default display is a column chart, you can easily switch between a column chart, a number cloud or an ordered list, even if your poll was initially set up as a column chart. Simply use the display type icon in Present view to toggle between formats.
6. Show mean, median & mode averages
Lastly, as a default, the mean average will always appear on the poll results. Use the toggles to either add or remove them to your poll results.
Mean average = adding up all the numbers in a set and then dividing by how many values there are.
Median average = is the middle number in a set of values when those values are arranged from smallest to largest.
Mode average = is the most frequently repeated value in the dataset.
Custom settings allows you to set up poll specific settings. Read more about it.
Present view will display the averages at the top of the results.
Participants will see their own answer, the mean, median & mode averages, the correct answer and explanation on their participant app.
If your settings required participants to provide their name and surname upon joining your session, you can identify which participants answered correctly through the downloadable data report. However, if you opted for anonymous identification, the word "anonymous" will appear next to the scores in the report.
Watch this video to get more ideas for numeric polls.