Why run a rank order test
Use this method when stakeholders disagree on priorities. Participants re-order items, discard irrelevant ones, and optionally explain the choices they made.
What participants do
- Review the list you provide.
- Drag items into a ranked list or move them to "Not important".
- Justify key moves so you have qualitative quotes to pair with the data.
What you learn
You will see the median position for each item, which items frequently get dropped, and which rationales repeat across responses. This helps teams decide what to tackle in the next release.
Facilitator checklist
- Keep lists under ten items to avoid fatigue.
- Randomize the initial order so you do not bias the outcome.
- Ask at least one follow-up question to capture reasoning.