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Configuring a Vertical Multiple Choice Review Criterion

A Vertical Multiple Choice review criterion allows reviewers to select a single option from a list of predefined choices displayed vertically.

This criterion type is commonly used for ratings, recommendations, rankings, and assessments where reviewers should select one response from a visible list of options.

Adding a Vertical Multiple Choice Review Criterion

  1. Navigate to the desired review form or scorecard.

  2. Select Add Criteria.

  3. Select Vertical Multiple Choice 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.

  • How would you assess the quality of this project?

  • What is your overall recommendation?

Best Practice: Use clear prompts that align with your scoring rubric and review objectives.

Criteria Configuration

The Criteria Configuration section is used to define the response 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

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

Non-Scoring Example

If the criterion is for informational purposes only, you can enter a text value in Value Saved.

Value Saved

Value Displayed

STRONG

Strongly Recommend

RECOMMEND

Recommend

NEUTRAL

Neutral

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

  • Overall Quality Assessment

Do Not Include in Total Score

  • Reviewer Recommendations

  • General Comments

  • Administrative Classifications

  • Follow-Up Suggestions

Note: If this option is disabled, the criterion will still collect reviewer responses, but 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 when scoring.

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

Common Use Cases

Vertical Multiple Choice review criteria are commonly used for:

  • Rating Scales

  • Recommendation Levels

  • Competency Assessments

  • Program Fit Evaluations

  • Impact Assessments

  • Innovation Ratings

  • Leadership Evaluations

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.

Vertical Multiple Choice vs. Dropdown Review Criteria

Criteria Type

Best Used For

Vertical Multiple Choice

Small to medium option sets where reviewers should see all options at once.

Dropdown

Larger option sets or when screen space is limited.

If reviewers benefit from seeing all available responses before making a selection, a Vertical Multiple Choice criterion is often the better choice.

Vertical Multiple Choice vs. Horizontal Multiple Choice Review Criteria

Criteria Type

Best Used For

Vertical Multiple Choice

Longer option labels or larger response sets.

Horizontal Multiple Choice

Short response sets such as Yes/No or simple rating scales.

Vertical layouts improve readability when option labels are longer or more descriptive.

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.

  • Use Vertical Multiple Choice when you want reviewers to see all options at once.

  • If a criterion is informational only, consider using text values rather than numerical values in Value Saved.

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.

  • If scoring is not required, you may use descriptive text values instead.

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