Exercise 5. Ranking
Name of exercise: Simple
ranking
Tools: Pen, paper, objects (or
names written on paper) to be ranked
Time needed: 1 – 2 hours
Description: Simple ranking is
a tool that provides insight into the
order of preference that respondents
express when presented with a number of
objects or ideas belonging to the same
general class or domain (for example
fruits, leafy greens, or soil types for
agriculture). Ranking can aid in
identifying preferences and priorities
from the respondents’ perspective.
It can be used for scientific research as
well as for decision-making in
development projects.
How to do it: Ranking can be
done by individuals or by small groups of
people. Participants should make a
list of popular, culturally
important or salient objects that belong
to the same domain (this can be done
through free-listing, as described in
exercise 4). Assemble the objects
mentioned in the list, or – if
respondents are literate – write the
names on separate pieces of paper. Ask
participants to arrange the objects (or
pieces of paper) in an order that
represents their general preference.
Record the results by assigning an
integer value (1, 2, 3 … n) to each
object. Low integers (1,2, 3, etc.) can
be assigned either to the most preferred
objects, or the least preferred objects,
as long as the method of assigning values
is consistent for each respondent. Record
the preference values in a table such as
the one shown below. The values can be
summed across participants and averaged,
giving an overall assessment of
preference ranking for the group. The
results can be cross-checked for
consistency and accuracy through
participant observation, interviewing or
other techniques such as matrix ranking
(see exercise 6) and pairwise comparisons
(exercise 7).
References:
IIRR. 1996. Recording and Using
Indigenous Knowledge: A Manual.
Silang, Cavite, International Institute
of Rural Reconstruction. Pages 95 –
96, "Sorting and ranking".
Martin, G.J. 1995. Ethnobotany: A
Methods Manual. London, Chapman and Hall.
Chapter on anthropology.
Rastogi,
A. 1999. Methods in Applied Ethnobotany:
Lessons from the Field. Discussion Paper
Series No. MNR 99/1. Kathmnadu,
International Centre for Integrated
Mountain Development.
Selener, D., N. Endara and J.
Carvajal. 1999. Participatory Rural
Appraisal and Planning Workbook.
Quito, International Institute of Rural
Reconstruction. Pages 80 – 84
"Problems ranking".
Example: Twenty-five fifth year
students of the Department of
Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany
of Khon Kaen University brought to class
samples of 17 fruits mentioned in the
free listing exercise. Individually, they
ranked the fruits according to their
personal preference, from 1 (most liked)
to 17 (least liked). After everyone had
finished their ranking, each person made
an estimate of which would be the most
and least liked fruits of the whole
class. The results of the ranking are
presented in the following table. While
there is variation in individual likes
and dislikes, there is a clear and
predicted preference for rambutan,
mangosteen, banana and orange, and a
pronounced lack of appreciation of
pomelo, pineapple, langsat, pomegranite
and santol. The predictions on most liked
(rambutan, mangosteen, papaya, longan and
banana) and least liked fruits (santol,
pomegranite, pomelo, langsat) were
largely correct.
| |
Respondent
number
|
| Common
name |
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
20
|
21
|
22
|
23
|
24
|
25
|
Total |
Average |
Rank |
| Rambutan |
2
|
6
|
3
|
2
|
9
|
17
|
3
|
1
|
6
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
13
|
15
|
8
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
1
|
5
|
8
|
9
|
6
|
2
|
1
|
134
|
5.36
|
1
|
| Mangosteen |
1
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
14
|
1
|
10
|
11
|
4
|
13
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
5
|
13
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
17
|
13
|
13
|
5
|
14
|
1
|
9
|
160
|
6.4
|
2
|
| Banana |
9
|
9
|
9
|
4
|
6
|
13
|
1
|
2
|
10
|
6
|
6
|
13
|
11
|
8
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
6
|
9
|
1
|
4
|
13
|
10
|
5
|
2
|
164
|
6.56
|
3
|
| Orange |
4
|
13
|
12
|
6
|
15
|
15
|
6
|
8
|
13
|
4
|
9
|
15
|
5
|
9
|
1
|
2
|
1
|
4
|
2
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
4
|
7
|
4
|
174
|
6.96
|
4
|
| Longan |
3
|
2
|
14
|
1
|
3
|
5
|
5
|
7
|
7
|
13
|
3
|
12
|
6
|
1
|
11
|
9
|
9
|
7
|
5
|
10
|
12
|
1
|
12
|
6
|
12
|
176
|
7.04
|
5
|
| Grape |
15
|
1
|
7
|
15
|
10
|
4
|
12
|
6
|
5
|
12
|
4
|
5
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
11
|
8
|
9
|
3
|
8
|
10
|
4
|
9
|
8
|
11
|
189
|
7.56
|
6
|
| Papaya |
7
|
5
|
4
|
9
|
17
|
7
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
1
|
16
|
16
|
8
|
7
|
2
|
5
|
10
|
17
|
7
|
3
|
11
|
12
|
11
|
3
|
3
|
189
|
7.56
|
7
|
| Apple |
13
|
4
|
6
|
5
|
8
|
12
|
8
|
12
|
17
|
5
|
13
|
7
|
4
|
12
|
6
|
15
|
12
|
5
|
4
|
6
|
7
|
7
|
8
|
16
|
6
|
218
|
8.72
|
8
|
| Coconut |
8
|
17
|
2
|
8
|
1
|
14
|
11
|
4
|
1
|
9
|
12
|
17
|
12
|
6
|
9
|
10
|
14
|
11
|
6
|
2
|
3
|
11
|
16
|
14
|
5
|
223
|
8.92
|
9
|
| Guava |
6
|
8
|
16
|
12
|
5
|
8
|
13
|
5
|
11
|
11
|
10
|
4
|
14
|
11
|
4
|
12
|
7
|
10
|
14
|
9
|
2
|
10
|
15
|
10
|
8
|
235
|
9.4
|
10
|
| Longong |
11
|
10
|
5
|
10
|
11
|
3
|
4
|
16
|
9
|
15
|
7
|
3
|
10
|
3
|
17
|
7
|
5
|
15
|
12
|
15
|
14
|
2
|
3
|
15
|
15
|
237
|
9.48
|
11
|
| Pear |
12
|
7
|
15
|
11
|
7
|
11
|
7
|
17
|
2
|
7
|
5
|
9
|
7
|
2
|
7
|
13
|
13
|
12
|
15
|
12
|
16
|
3
|
1
|
12
|
17
|
240
|
9.6
|
12
|
| Pomelo |
5
|
12
|
11
|
7
|
13
|
2
|
15
|
13
|
16
|
16
|
14
|
11
|
2
|
14
|
12
|
8
|
17
|
8
|
11
|
7
|
6
|
14
|
2
|
4
|
13
|
253
|
10.12
|
13
|
| Pineapple |
10
|
16
|
10
|
14
|
16
|
6
|
9
|
10
|
12
|
8
|
11
|
10
|
15
|
17
|
10
|
16
|
11
|
14
|
8
|
11
|
1
|
8
|
5
|
11
|
10
|
269
|
10.76
|
14
|
| Langsat |
14
|
14
|
8
|
16
|
12
|
9
|
14
|
15
|
8
|
14
|
8
|
6
|
9
|
16
|
16
|
6
|
6
|
2
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
17
|
13
|
17
|
16
|
298
|
11.92
|
15
|
| Pomegranite |
17
|
11
|
13
|
17
|
2
|
10
|
17
|
9
|
15
|
17
|
15
|
8
|
16
|
10
|
15
|
14
|
16
|
13
|
10
|
16
|
9
|
15
|
7
|
13
|
17
|
322
|
12.88
|
16
|
| Santol |
16
|
15
|
17
|
13
|
4
|
16
|
16
|
14
|
14
|
10
|
17
|
14
|
17
|
13
|
14
|
17
|
15
|
16
|
16
|
17
|
17
|
16
|
17
|
9
|
14
|
364
|
14.56
|
17
|
BACK
|
