Folks,

With regard to the Star Voting System.  I realized an irregularity when Eldave1 noticed something odd in the voting, namely large jumps in scores when voting.  I have investigated and found out why.  

Poor Math...

In the human world scores of 1, 3, 5  and 5, 3, 1 would average to  3

1+3+5=9 ; 9/3 = 3

5+3+1=9; 9/3 = 3

However, in the discussion board, the star system averages things differently.  
In the case of votes in order of 1, 3 and 5

1+3 = 4 ; 4/2 = 2 ; 2 + 5 = 7 ; 7/2 = 3.5 final score

In the case of votes in order of 5, 3 and 1

5+3 = 8 ; 8/2 = 4 ; 4 + 1 = 5 ; 5/2 = 2.5 final score

In the case of votes in order of 1, 5 and 3

1+5 = 6 ; 6/2 = 3 ; 3 + 3 = 6 ; 6/2 = 3 final score

So, the order of voting did matter.

What are we going to do about it?

Nothing.  I am working under the assumption that, in the giant scheme of things, everything kinda balances out.

I know this is a free challenge, however, we do strive to make it as professional and transparent as possible since the participants take the challenges seriously.

I apologize for this and thank you in advance for your understanding.



- Don  

Wow, that's interesting. Does this mean that the overall score at the second to last vote was averaged with the last vote?

That is, if a script had 19 5s, with a an obviously overall score of 5, and the last vote was a 1, the script would show as a 3?

That's quite unfortunate. But, what can you do?

As you said, we're all doing this for fun, so, no complaints from me.

Quoted from PKCardinal Wow, that's interesting. Does this mean that the overall score at the second to last vote was averaged with the last vote? That is, if a script had 19 5s, with a an obviously overall score of 5, and the last vote was a 1, the script would show as a 3? That's quite unfortunate. But, what can you do? As you said, we're all doing this for fun, so, no complaints from me.

Unfortunately, yes.  And vice versa - 19 1s, and the last vote a 5 would show a 3.

- Don

I've no idea if that issue makes a material difference to anyone's scores when the example is a lot more than 3 votes, but if you know the scores for each script then a real average would be simple enough, though a little time-consuming.

I work for a bank and have been known to add up every now and again so happy to do it.

Any thought to just posting the script pairings and letting us all vote a top 4?

(I don't want to complicate things for you, as this has been a ton of work for you both, and I appreciate it greatly.)

Don,

Do we have the actual scores saved up, or just the averages? If we have the actuals, I can do them tonight and have the results of this round up then begin round 4 tomorrow and just move things back one day.

Math hurts when I look at it.

Quoted from AnthonyCawood I've no idea if that issue makes a material difference to anyone's scores when the example is a lot more than 3 votes, but if you know the scores for each script then a real average would be simple enough, though a little time-consuming. I work for a bank and have been known to add up every now and again so happy to do it.

Anthony,

Unfortunately,  I don't know the votes for each script.  I don't know why it was coded this way but what happens is that a .rate file is created with the first vote, e.g.,

1VOTER

When there is a second vote, that file is opened up and the new vote - 5-  is added to the current vote and divided by 2 and the voter is appended and the file save so the file looks like this:

3VOTERVOTER2

I didn't imagine to check before it started.

- Don

Interesting. This thread shows one vote for five stars. Let's see what happens when I give it a one star....

Hold on...I'll get my 13 year old daughter to figure out this new math

Quoted from Mr. Blonde Don, Do we have the actual scores saved up, or just the averages? If we have the actuals, I can do them tonight and have the results of this round up then begin round 4 tomorrow and just move things back one day.

All we have are the 'averages' (which we know are not averages). The discussion board does the math and adds it to a file with the name of the voter.  So, I know who voted for each script, but I don't know what those votes were.

- Don

I wouldn't mind submitting my scores the way we normally do. I have them down. I imagine most of us could probably recollect their scores for the scripts.

Just tested it on this thread. That's crazy.

Not something you'd have any reason to check Don... you'd assume normal averages would be used, the way it has been coded is bizarre to say the least!

Can you create a poll with all the scripts listed and PM the poll to all those who voted? I'll gladly vote again, and I'm pretty sure I remember what I gave each script.