In this article we cover:
- Pros & cons of displaying real-time results
- Pros & cons of displaying results on poll close
- How to turn ON real-time results
- How to turn OFF show result on poll close
- Use custom settings for individual polls
With Vevox, you can choose to show live results as votes come in (real-time updates) or display results only after the poll has closed. Your default settings apply across the session, but you can also customize settings for individual polls.
Consider these pros and cons before making the decision.
1. Display real-time results:
Real-time results are also called 'dynamic updates' as results update instantly as participants vote.
Pros:
- Creates excitement, especially with word clouds, as participants see words grow dynamically.
- It adds a fun element when comparing close votes, building anticipation.
Cons:
- The biggest drawback is that participants might be influenced by others’ choices, affecting honest feedback.
The default session setting: is OFF.
Example: Displaying real-time results in PowerPoint
2. Display results on poll close:
This option reveals results only after the poll is closed.
Pros:
- Ensures participants give unbiased feedback without external influence.
- Helps decision-making by getting honest opinions.
- Results are displayed automatically when the poll closes (unless disabled).
Cons:
- If this option is turned off, results will not be shown in Present View or the participant app unless they are manually revealed using the control bar in Present View.
The default session setting: is ON
Example: Displaying results only after poll close in Present View
If the "Show results on poll close" toggle is OFF, you can manually display the results by clicking the "Show Results" button in Present View, located on the left side of the control bar.
Alternatively, you can choose to keep the results hidden from participants and only access them later in the data report for analysis.
For Word Clouds:
If your session’s default setting is “Display results on poll close,” but you want to show a live word cloud update, you have two options:
- Enable real-time results for that specific poll.
- Open the word cloud poll in Present View and click “Show Results” in the control bar.
Example: Showing a word cloud in Present View
The word cloud in PowerPoint will also dynamically update as the responses are submitted. Participants can watch the word cloud expand on the main screen and on their own devices.
3. How to Turn ON 'Display Real-Time Results
Go to 'Settings'.
Choose the Polls section.
Toggle 'Display real-time results' ON and save.
Note: This will automatically disable ‘Display results on poll close’.
4. How to Turn OFF Display Results on Poll Close
Go to 'Settings'.
Choose the Poll section.
Toggle “Display results on poll close” OFF and save.
Note: If both real-time results and poll-close results are OFF, no results will be shown unless manually revealed.
5. Use Custom Settings for Individual Polls
When creating a new poll, you can adjust settings per poll, overriding the session’s default. This is useful when:
- You want to see a live word cloud update, but keep other results hidden until poll close.
- You need a longer countdown timer for certain questions.
When setting up your poll, select 'Use custom settings for this poll', then choose to:
- Display real-time results
- Automatically show results on poll close
- Set a countdown timer & choose a timer sound
- Choose how vote data is displayed (percentages, actual numbers, or both)
These settings will also reflect in your Teams and PowerPoint integrations when using Vevox.