Poll on the criteria for ranking universities
Gaussian Math is currently undertaking a small project in the area of game theory and democracy. Specifically, we are analyzing which ballot counting method is ideal for selecting a winner in a poll. With your participation, you can greatly aid us by simply considering the question:
What is the best criterion of a top ranked university at the undergraduate level?
Below are the choices you can choose and a brief description of them.
1. Distinguished Alumni
This criterion is based on the prominent statues reached by students who attended the university for undergraduate studies. We are not counting students who attended the school for Masters or Ph.D degrees. Such alumni to the school who have won research prizes, Nobel prizes or Fields medal would suggest a top ranked university.
2. Distinguished Faculty
Voters would prefer this criterion if they judged a top ranked university by how distinguished the faculty are in their respective fields. For example, if the faculty has an excellent track record at awards, made important discoveries or partook in ground-breaking research, then this would suggest a top ranked university.
3. Average grade point average (GPA)
How a university is ranked is based on what is the average GPA students graduate with, the higher the better.
4. Admission percentages
How a university is ranked is based on how low the admission percentages are. We will assume that the lower the admission percentages, the higher ranked the university is. This portrays the image that the university is more prestigious.
5. Mean SAT score
This criterion is based on the mean SAT score of the incoming class, the higher the better. Voters would prefer this criterion if they think at SAT scores are an indication of how good the student body will be.
6. Employment rate after a given time
We judge a top ranked university by how well recognized its name is in the job market. If a degree from a university gets the graduate a job faster than the rest, than the university is considered to be higher ranked.
DIRECTIONS:
As this will be a preferential and approval ballot, we need you to submit your votes in two steps. First, rank the criterion in the order which you think best indicates a top ranked university. No duplicate selections are allowed*. You can't select 'Admission percentages' for both 'Choice 1' and 'Choice 2'.
Second, click on the button to indicate your approval of the criterion and the rest above it to be used to rank a university. For example, if your first to sixth choices are
Choice 1: Distinguished Faculty
Choice 2: Distinguished Alumni
*Choice 3: Employment rate
Choice 4: Admission percentages
Choice 5: Mean SAT score
Choice 6: Average GPA
by clicking on the button next to 'Employment rate', it means that your approve of 'Distinguished Faculty', 'Distinguished Alumni', and 'Employment rate' as a valid criterion. While the precise meaning of 'approve of' can be subjective, just think of it as you would like to used those criterion to rank a university.
With the directions explained, let's vote for the criteria!
Thank you for your time! Analysis of results will be posted soon!
*As I am more of a mathematician and not a programmer, I can only spot an error once I view the results in my email.
Gaussian Math is currently undertaking a small project in the area of game theory and democracy. Specifically, we are analyzing which ballot counting method is ideal for selecting a winner in a poll. With your participation, you can greatly aid us by simply considering the question:
What is the best criterion of a top ranked university at the undergraduate level?
Below are the choices you can choose and a brief description of them.
1. Distinguished Alumni
This criterion is based on the prominent statues reached by students who attended the university for undergraduate studies. We are not counting students who attended the school for Masters or Ph.D degrees. Such alumni to the school who have won research prizes, Nobel prizes or Fields medal would suggest a top ranked university.
2. Distinguished Faculty
Voters would prefer this criterion if they judged a top ranked university by how distinguished the faculty are in their respective fields. For example, if the faculty has an excellent track record at awards, made important discoveries or partook in ground-breaking research, then this would suggest a top ranked university.
3. Average grade point average (GPA)
How a university is ranked is based on what is the average GPA students graduate with, the higher the better.
4. Admission percentages
How a university is ranked is based on how low the admission percentages are. We will assume that the lower the admission percentages, the higher ranked the university is. This portrays the image that the university is more prestigious.
5. Mean SAT score
This criterion is based on the mean SAT score of the incoming class, the higher the better. Voters would prefer this criterion if they think at SAT scores are an indication of how good the student body will be.
6. Employment rate after a given time
We judge a top ranked university by how well recognized its name is in the job market. If a degree from a university gets the graduate a job faster than the rest, than the university is considered to be higher ranked.
DIRECTIONS:
As this will be a preferential and approval ballot, we need you to submit your votes in two steps. First, rank the criterion in the order which you think best indicates a top ranked university. No duplicate selections are allowed*. You can't select 'Admission percentages' for both 'Choice 1' and 'Choice 2'.
Second, click on the button to indicate your approval of the criterion and the rest above it to be used to rank a university. For example, if your first to sixth choices are
Choice 1: Distinguished Faculty
Choice 2: Distinguished Alumni
*Choice 3: Employment rate
Choice 4: Admission percentages
Choice 5: Mean SAT score
Choice 6: Average GPA
by clicking on the button next to 'Employment rate', it means that your approve of 'Distinguished Faculty', 'Distinguished Alumni', and 'Employment rate' as a valid criterion. While the precise meaning of 'approve of' can be subjective, just think of it as you would like to used those criterion to rank a university.
With the directions explained, let's vote for the criteria!
Thank you for your time! Analysis of results will be posted soon!
*As I am more of a mathematician and not a programmer, I can only spot an error once I view the results in my email.
