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Configuring a Dropdown Review Criterion

A Dropdown review criterion allows reviewers to select a single option from a predefined list of choices.

This criterion type is commonly used for ratings, recommendations, rankings, or any evaluation where reviewers should select one option from a set of predefined responses.

Adding a Dropdown Review Criterion

  1. Navigate to the desired review form or scorecard.

  2. Select Add Criteria.

  3. Select Dropdown from the Criteria Type dropdown.

  4. Configure the available settings.

  5. Select Submit.

Configuration Options

Criteria Prompt

The question or prompt displayed to reviewers during the evaluation process.

Example:

  • Please rate the applicant's leadership abilities.

  • What is your overall recommendation?

  • How would you assess the project's impact?

Best Practice: Use clear prompts that align with your review criteria and scoring methodology.

Criteria Configuration

The Criteria Configuration section is used to define the dropdown options available to reviewers.

To add an option:

  1. Select Add Option.

  2. Enter a Value Saved.

  3. Enter a Value Displayed.

  4. Repeat as needed for additional options.

Value Saved

The value stored within the system when an option is selected.

This value is commonly used for:

  • Scoring calculations

  • Report exports

  • Ranking submissions

  • Determining overall review scores

Scoring Example:

If the criterion contributes to the review score, enter a numerical value in Value Saved. 

Value Saved

Value Displayed

5

Excellent

4

Very Good

3

Good

2

Fair

1

Poor

In this example, the reviewer sees Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor, but the system stores the corresponding numeric value for scoring purposes.

When Include in Total Score is enabled, the numerical values will be used to calculate the reviewer's score.

Non-Scoring Example:

Value Saved

Value Displayed

Strong

Strongly Recommend

Recommend

Recommend

Decline

Do Not Recommend

In this example, the criterion is used to capture reviewer feedback but does not contribute to the review score.

Best Practice: If Include in Total Score is disabled, consider using descriptive text values rather than numerical scores to make reporting easier to understand.

Value Displayed

The text shown to reviewers when making their selection.

Example:

  • Excellent

  • Very Good

  • Good

  • Fair

  • Poor

Best Practice: Use reviewer-friendly labels that clearly communicate the meaning of each option.

Include "N/A" Option

Determines whether reviewers can select N/A (Not Applicable).

Enabled

  • Reviewers can select N/A when the criterion does not apply.

Disabled

  • Reviewers must select one of the configured options.

Common Uses:

  • Optional review categories

  • Criteria that may not apply to every submission

  • Specialized evaluation areas

Best Practice: Enable N/A only when reviewers may legitimately be unable to evaluate a criterion.

Include in Total Score

Determines whether the selected value contributes to the overall review score.

Enabled

  • The criterion contributes to the total score calculation.

Disabled

  • The criterion is informational only and does not affect scoring.

Example Uses:

Include in Total Score:

  • Leadership Rating

  • Project Impact

  • Innovation Score

Do Not Include in Total Score:

  • Reviewer Recommendations

  • General Comments

  • Administrative Classifications

Note: If this option is disabled, the criterion will still collect reviewer responses, however the selected value will not contribute to the overall review score. 

Mandatory Field

Determines whether reviewers must complete the criterion before submitting their evaluation.

Enabled

  • Reviewers must select an option.

Disabled

  • Reviewers may leave the criterion unanswered.

Best Practice: Enable this setting when the criterion is required as part of the review process.

Help Hover Text

Additional instructions displayed when reviewers hover over the help icon.

Example Uses:

  • Select the option that best reflects your assessment.

  • Use the scoring rubric when making your selection.

  • Consider the applicant's overall qualifications.

Best Practice: Use Help Hover Text to reinforce scoring guidelines and improve reviewer consistency.

Common Use Cases

Dropdown review criteria are commonly used for:

  • Rating Scales

  • Recommendation Levels

  • Overall Evaluations

  • Competency Assessments

  • Impact Ratings

  • Innovation Ratings

  • Program Fit Assessments

Example Scoring Setup

Leadership Assessment

Value Saved

Value Displayed

5

Excellent

4

Very Good

3

Good

2

Fair

1

Poor

With Include in Total Score enabled, the selected value will contribute to the reviewer's overall score.

Dropdown vs. Multiple Choice Review Criteria

Criteria Type

Best Used For

Dropdown

Large option sets or when screen space is limited.

Multiple Choice

Small option sets where reviewers should see all choices at once.

Best Practices

  • Use numeric values in Value Saved when the criterion contributes to scoring.

  • Use descriptive labels in Value Displayed so reviewers understand each option.

  • Enable Include in Total Score only when the criterion should affect overall rankings.

  • Use N/A sparingly and only when a criterion may not apply.

  • Keep scoring scales consistent across all review criteria.

  • Clearly document scoring expectations for reviewers to improve evaluation consistency.

Important Notes

  • Reviewers only see the Value Displayed options.

  • The system stores the Value Saved value.

  • If scoring is required, enter the numerical score in the Value Saved field.

  • A criterion can be used for scoring, informational purposes, or both depending on the configuration.