Admin

I'm thinking about changing the way the contest system works.

Instead of allowing only one vote per user, I would like to allow unlimited votes with a 5-point system.

Any user would be able grade as many pictures as he/she wants and assign a value from 1 to 5 points/stars/etc. to any picture.

Now the question is how to determine the winner?

Going by the average score won't work. For example, one picture might get 10 votes of 4 points, and have the average score of 4. While another picture might get one vote of 5 points and get the average score of 5. Obviously, the latter isn't necessarily a better picture.

Going by the product won't work either. One picture might get three votes of 4 points for a 12-point product. While another one might get two votes of 5 points for a 10-point product. The former picture would win with such scoring system, while it would be apparent that the latter picture is the better one.

Any suggestions?

MsJ Loc: Northern Indiana

What's wrong with one vote per person? That is the only sure way to know which is really the winner! :|

Admin

I know. The current system is the best one from the mathematical point of view. But it's boring, and it favors random change to a high degree.

I noticed that once a few pictures get 3-4 votes each and climb to the top of the ratings list, they begin to receive even more views (and possibly votes), while other pictures are largely ignored.

Another way to structure the contests would be to sort pictures according to number of views. Pictures with the least number of views would be shown first. But this might backfire in some way.

martinfisherphoto Loc: Lake Placid Florida

Maybe allow everyone one vote but no tally till end of contest.. Just keep in order of download so you have to view all photos to pick the best one you like and not by the votes of other folks.

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

Instead of your idea, why not let the voter have - lets say vote for 5 of H/H's favorite ones and the picture that gets the most is winner...

oldmalky Loc: West Midlands,England.

I like the one vote per person but whatever is chosen will be moaned at.

Admin

Hmm. I think such system won't be much different either from what we currently have or from allowing unlimited votes.

If we consider setting some arbitrary limit, we can either go high or low.

Why 5? Why not 10? Or 50? Or 200? This would lead us to essentially unlimited voting. It's like hitting "like" for everything you see on the screen. Not good.

On the other end of the spectrum one might ask why 5? Why not 2? Why not 1? Which would lead us to the system we have now.

So if we go high, we end up with unlimited voting, and if we go low we end up with what we have now.

Picking a small number like 5 won't really make a difference. The few images that happen to gain some votes early in the process would leave other images as outsiders for the remainder of the contest. The votes might spread out a bit, but it won't change the overall dynamic.

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

I just picked the #5 to use as an example... Realalistically, we will not get much over maybe 10,000 (probably 30) entries so 5 just seems to be a decent #...

Admin

I'm thinking another option is to dilute the voting power of a user based on how many votes he/she placed.

For example:

For any given contest a user has one point to share.

So if he/she only places one vote for some picture, that picture gets a score bump by one point.

If later on, that same user votes for another picture, the point is split. At this time, two pictures would get 0.5 point each from this user.

If he/she votes for 10 different pictures in the contest, each of the pictures would get 0.10 points from this user.

And the winner would be decided by the raw sum of all points from all users' votes.

So if you really like one picture, only vote for this picture and nothing else. But if like multiple pictures, you can vote for as many as you like provided your voting power gets split among them.

Users would also have an option of revoking a vote. So if you vote for some pictures and later on decide to concentrate your voting "juice" on fewer pictures you like the most, then you'll be able to revoke your earlier votes for the pictures you liked least of all.

What do you think?

Admin

I agree that 5 is a reasonable number. I just don't think the system would be much different from what we have now. It won't solve the issue I outlined with the current system.

tk Loc: Iowa

Of all the things suggested, this one I really dislike. One thing I would like is for the OP to allow pictures submitted by a certain date. No voting until all pictures are in then allow 3 votes. That seems to be my personal situation. I usually can't pick my favorite between about 3 or them. Most wins. Plus, this isn't for cash so if there is a tie, so what. That just means there are two really terrific shots.

MsJ Loc: Northern Indiana

Keep all votes from showing until voting is done!

Joyfullee Loc: South FL

I think the contest should be that entries are received for x number of days and/or set limited number of entries, whichever comes first.

No voting until all entries have been received.

Each person gets to place a vote for 5 photos. (There are excellent photos and sometimes it's very hard to choose just one from the many entries.) The tally of votes is not to be shown to the voters. Voting should have a time limit, such as votes will be received for 3 days after the contest (submissions have been received) has ended.

After the 3 days of voting, post the top five winners and then allow 1 vote per person for one of the top five.

This voting will announce the winner of the contest.

My thoughts.

Joyfullee Loc: South FL

Deleted, post duplicated.

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

This sounds like a reasonable compromise.