Dot voting is a popular tool for recognizing group preferences, but it has its flaws. Idea rating sheets are a smarter tool to use for large group decision-making. This presentation explains why.

1. dot voting
vs.
idea rating
sheets

2. Both are tools to help groups recognize
their collective opinions
dot voting idea rating sheets

3. dot voting
• Participants are each given a
set number of dot stickers
• They place dot stickers next
to statements they like
• Statements with the most
dots “win”

4. idea rating sheets
• Participants write their own statements, one idea per sheet
• Use pens to fill-in one dot per sheet to rate their level of agreement

5. idea rating sheets
• Participants write their own statements, one idea per sheet
• Use pens to fill-in one dot per sheet to rate their level of agreement
• Results show the degree of support or conflict on every idea

6. Dot voting & idea rating sheets are similar
• Both are easy and fun to use
• Both work well with children and adults
• Both provide equal opportunity participation
• Both work with a large number of participants
• Both can be used in or outside of meetings
• Both give visual results

7. What’s the difference?

8. idea rating sheets
are smarter than
dot voting
Here is why…

9. Dot voting: Is a cumulative voting method
Works fine for prioritizing
between a few distinct
options, like in elections.
Reliable when done with
ballots or online – less so
with stickers.
Not effective for prioritizing
among many ideas…

10. It’s just a one question multiple-choice survey done with stickers
=
Dot voting:

11. Dot voting: limits creativity
and diversity of ideas
Too many options
become impossible to
compare
Psychologists call this
“choice overload”

12. Dot voting: limits creativity
and diversity of ideas
Can not add new ideas once voting has started

13. Dot voting: can give confusing or false results
Vote-splitting causes related ideas to lose unfairly
12 out of 18
people wanted
vegetarian
but vote-splitting
caused meat
to win

14. Dot voting: can give confusing or false results
You can not tell if
someone has
cheated by removing
stickers or adding
extra dots

15. idea rating sheets are sophisticated
It’s like idea rating software on paper
(aka “crowdsourcing”)

16. idea rating sheets are sophisticated
Opinion research
standard Likert scale
Business planning best
practice SWOT analysis
(Strengths, Weaknesses,
Opportunities, & Threats)

17. idea rating sheets are sophisticated
Anyone can
add new ideas
at any time

18. idea rating sheets are sophisticated
No limit on the number of
ideas presented
Participants only need to
consider one idea at time
Can rate as many or as
few ideas as they choose

19. idea rating sheets are sophisticated
Easily recognize levels of agreement or conflict

20. idea rating sheets are sophisticated
No vote-splitting, so similar ideas are not penalized
most
preferred
most
objection

21. idea rating sheets are sophisticated
The number of
signatures validates
the number of dots
Optional comments
gives some insight into
dotting opinions

22. Who uses idea rating sheets?
Over 4,000 international subscribers:
professional facilitators, educators, committee chairs,
business managers, & community and organization leaders
Facilitators Survey (2012)

23. Get the sheets, instructions and
facilitator’s handbook
for free at:
IdeaRatingSheets.org