Top pick configuration

Top pick judging allows judges to choose and rank their preferred entries. Judges assign a ranked order to a limited number of entries.

Top pick works best when:

  • There are many judges, or
  • There is a small number of entries

This helps ensure enough overlapping picks for meaningful results.

Award Force uses the single transferable vote (STV) method to calculate results. STV is a ranked voting system designed to produce proportional outcomes. Learn more in How does Top pick (Single Transferable Voting) work.

Top pick judging requires three items

  • A score set
  • A judging round
  • One or more panels

You can configure this manually or use Judging fast start.

Create a score set

  1. In the Manage workspace, go to Judging > Settings > Score sets
  2. Click New score set
  3. In the 'Details' tab, enter a score set name
  4. Select Top pick as the judging mode
  5. Configure Top pick rules:
    • Winner calculation: choose to calculate winners by category or across all categories
    • Quantity of winners: set the number of winners to be selected
    • Quantity of preferences to allocate: set how many ranked picks each judge can make
  6. In the 'Display' tab, set your desired options including:
    • Layout
    • Category quick filter
    • Entry order
    • List length default
    • Commenting options
    • Attachment display options
    • Referee display options
    • Share scores
    • Slideshow
    • Cover image
  7. Click Save

To learn more about score sets, read the Configure score sets guide.

Create a judging round

  1. In the Manage workspace, go to Judging > Settings > Rounds
  2. Select Add round
  3. Select Judging as the round type
  4. Set the start and end dates and times
  5. Select Save

To learn more about rounds, read the Ultimate guide to rounds guide. 

Create judging panels

  1. In the Manage workspace, go to Judging > Settings > Panels
  2. Select New panel
  3. Choose Top pick as the judging mode
  4. Select the score set
  5. In 'Entries', select the categories, chapters, and/or tags
  6. In 'Who', choose who can pick entries
  7. In 'When', select the judging round
  8. Click Save

Good to know

  • Top pick is most effective with many judges or fewer entries.
  • STV calculations are based on ranked preferences.
  • The quantity of winners affects STV calculations.
  • Judges can only make the number of picks you allow.
  • Top pick button colours are controlled by your theming configuration:
    Top pick colours
    • Hover: Primary button
    • Selected: Secondary button
    • Unselected: Tertiary button
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