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Ranking Score Explained

Hey, thanks for your interest in how we calculate an experience's ranking score. It's at the core of Rankers so I'm pleased you're curious.

The ranking score percentage is used to compare and sort experiences in ranking tables. It is not necessarily a direct measurement of the quality of a particular experience as rated by its customers. I've found it a useful tool to allow me to find the best experiences with confidence. But I've also found it important to read the customer reviews before making any final judgements!

We calculate an experience's ranking score using a multi-factor data model instead of a raw data average (mean). This model takes into account several important questions. For instance - is there a trusted body of reviews? What is the age of a review and is the review from a credible source?

Below you'll find details around some of the important factors that went into calculating the ranking score for Dolphin Encounter Kaikoura.

If you have any questions or comments about our ranking score calculation please get in touch at info@rankers.co.nz. We don't believe this is perfect or complete so we're always interested in ways we might make improvements.

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Cymen Crick

Rankers Owner

Dolphin Encounter Kaikoura

Valid Reviews

256 Valid Reviews

The Dolphin Encounter Kaikoura experience has a total of 258 reviews. There are 256 valid reviews that are included when calculating the ranking score and 2 invalid reviews that are excluded from the calculation. Reviews can be excluded only when a reviewer is not verified or after an investigation by our team determines the reviewer is not genuine.

Below is the distribution of ratings for the 256 valid reviews:

Rating Count Percentage
10/10 136
53%
9/10 75
29%
8/10 31
12%
7/10 13
5%
6/10 1
0%
5/10 0
0%
4/10 0
0%
3/10 0
0%
2/10 0
0%
1/10 0
0%

92.97% Average

The raw data average (mean) for all the Dolphin Encounter Kaikoura valid reviews is 92.97% and is based on 256 valid reviews. This value is not used to calculate the ranking score and it only provided here as a comparison to the weighted average.

Face-to-Face Reviews

210 Face-to-Face Reviews

The Rankers team meets with travellers while they’re in New Zealand and conducts face-to-face surveys. These reviews, in our opinion, are the most trusted in the industry and represent a critical control sample. To our knowledge, we are the only travel review website in the world that has gone to this extent.

More about face-to-face reviews

Within the 256 valid reviews, the experience has 210 face-to-face reviews collected during interviews by our team.

Below is the distribution of ratings for the 210 face-to-face reviews:

Rating Count Percentage
10/10 104
50%
9/10 66
31%
8/10 30
14%
7/10 10
5%
6/10 0
0%
5/10 0
0%
4/10 0
0%
3/10 0
0%
2/10 0
0%
1/10 0
0%

92.57% Average

The raw data average (mean) for all the Dolphin Encounter Kaikoura face-to-face reviews is 92.57% and is based on 210 face-to-face reviews. This value is not used to calculate the ranking score and it only provided here for comparison purposes.

Weighted Average

93.03%

Rankers calculates a weighted mean as a base average on which we can improve. Individual review's ratings are given a weight based on several factors. The weight of a review determines the overall impact it'll have on the final weighted average.

Recent reviews have more weight as they are more relevant and reflect the experience as it currently operates. Over time reviews become less relevant and loose their impact on the ranking score.

Low rating reviews carry slightly less weight. This dampens the effect of very low ratings for every experience across the board. This is especially important when the experience has few reviews overall and a single negative rating can grossly mischaracterise an experience. Consistent poor reviews will still result in the experience receiving a comparitively low ranking score.

Credible sources provide reviews that can be trusted. If we have verified a reviewer is genuine via a face-to-face meeting then the review carries additional weight.

Reviewer Rating Age Relative Weight
Wil 9/10 477 days 100%
Lisa 10/10 1176 days 34%
Michael Holm 9/10 2693 days 4%
Stefan Zink 10/10 2945 days 3%
Fentrup 9/10 2951 days 3%
Katharina Koch 10/10 2955 days 3%
Aurelie and Ben Marie 9/10 2957 days 3%
Sebastian Braun 9/10 3045 days 3%
Joanne Woo 10/10 3062 days 3%
Chris 6/10 3093 days 3%
Olivier Reculeau 10/10 3279 days 2%
Susanne Breudel 10/10 3284 days 2%
Josh Legge 10/10 3292 days 2%
Daniel Weber 9/10 3294 days 2%
Virginia Fradin 10/10 3298 days 2%
Olivier Anciaux 9/10 3301 days 2%
Wendy van Boom 10/10 3301 days 2%
Bas Hoogteijling 10/10 3304 days 2%
Mira Huckfield 10/10 3314 days 2%
Maike Santelmann 10/10 3326 days 2%
Levin Stuers 10/10 3331 days 2%
magdalena gomez haedo 9/10 3334 days 2%
Lucca Weisbender 10/10 3336 days 2%
Anna Scholten 10/10 3337 days 2%
Nils Kissel 10/10 3347 days 2%
Madita and Lisann 10/10 3383 days 2%
sanneke tangel 10/10 3389 days 2%
Georgia Coleman 10/10 3389 days 2%
Virgil Spruit 8/10 3393 days 2%
Xue Rong Kok 7/10 3398 days 2%
Anthony Jacobs 10/10 3520 days 2%
Sofie Jebsen 10/10 3663 days 2%
Tobias 10/10 3663 days 2%
Annika Funk 10/10 3699 days 2%
Dawn Mulligan 10/10 3715 days 2%
Christophe Scieszka 10/10 3732 days 1%
Hubert 8/10 3772 days 1%
Ondrej Stepanek 8/10 4008 days 1%
Boneschova Jarka 10/10 4008 days 1%
Heike Heller 10/10 4017 days 1%
Andreas Mouteiro 9/10 4017 days 1%
Josefin Lind 10/10 4018 days 1%
Herman Holmgist 10/10 4018 days 1%
Felicitas 9/10 4040 days 1%
Antoine 8/10 4048 days 1%
Mara K 10/10 4067 days 1%
Emilie Chanbon 10/10 4070 days 1%
Alexis Redor 10/10 4070 days 1%
Julia Amberger 8/10 4089 days 1%
Annalina Drebald 8/10 4089 days 1%
balesdent 9/10 4095 days 1%
Alineet Gautier 10/10 4098 days 1%
Annika Schmidt 10/10 4378 days 0%
Patrick Stoeit 10/10 4378 days 0%
Audrey Ripoche 9/10 4380 days 1%
Rey Germain 9/10 4380 days 1%
Christofer Tonn 10/10 4390 days 1%
Ann Furlong 10/10 4398 days 1%
Trudy Ryan 8/10 4398 days 1%
Jill Fischer 10/10 4404 days 1%
Kim 10/10 4404 days 1%
Francois Marchar 9/10 4414 days 1%
Jan Zimmerman 10/10 4419 days 1%
Elvin Teo 10/10 4432 days 1%
Rob 9/10 4480 days 1%
Andreas Garbin 10/10 4482 days 1%
Joanna 9/10 4500 days 1%
Mellow 10/10 4524 days 1%
whalelover88 10/10 4677 days 1%
Jos Schieveen 8/10 4748 days 1%
Goran Backlund 9/10 4754 days 1%
Nathan Sait 10/10 4761 days 1%
Toby Clark 10/10 4761 days 1%
Maxine Gilman 10/10 4764 days 1%
Harald 9/10 4778 days 1%
Dominik Langenegger 9/10 4780 days 1%
Rebecca Richardson 9/10 4780 days 1%
Andrew Powell 9/10 4780 days 1%
Peter Field 10/10 4780 days 1%
Eric Lombaard 8/10 4781 days 1%
Nicholas Prakenhammar 10/10 4782 days 1%
Peter Wall 7/10 4782 days 1%
Verne Heath 8/10 4783 days 1%
John O'Donnell 10/10 4784 days 1%
Paul Fairbrass 10/10 4791 days 1%
Frank Krivauek 10/10 4792 days 1%
Rocco Christian 7/10 4792 days 1%
Kurt & Noemi Buhler 7/10 4793 days 1%
Therese 7/10 4796 days 1%
Katie K 9/10 4807 days 1%
CMJ 10/10 4829 days 1%
Jacqueline 10/10 4860 days 1%
Marc & Pauline 9/10 4866 days 1%
Kevin & Chris 9/10 4867 days 1%
Robin & Sandra Dijke 9/10 4869 days 1%
Laura McCusker 8/10 4876 days 1%
Dexter 10/10 5074 days 1%
Jasmin Loeffler 10/10 5080 days 1%
Natascha Rachel 10/10 5080 days 1%
Res Kormann 10/10 5093 days 1%
Sarah James 10/10 5103 days 1%
Nick Taylor 10/10 5103 days 1%
Nicola Young 10/10 5103 days 1%
Stefan Elsenbruch 9/10 5108 days 1%
Stefanie 7/10 5118 days 1%
Koen Vanlede 10/10 5121 days 1%
Van Vliet 8/10 5122 days 1%
Vanessa Vogel 10/10 5125 days 1%
Marcel Camsch 9/10 5127 days 1%
Keely & Mark Haynes 10/10 5128 days 1%
Svea Sauter 10/10 5128 days 1%
henriket 10/10 5129 days 1%
Amanda Wells 10/10 5129 days 1%
K & J Overton 9/10 5129 days 1%
Jerry & Floon 9/10 5133 days 1%
Bartl 10/10 5133 days 1%
travellingfamilyof6 10/10 5135 days 1%
WeddingMaven 10/10 5135 days 1%
Lieve Verdonck 8/10 5136 days 1%
Victoria Purver 8/10 5138 days 1%
Thelia Beament 9/10 5138 days 1%
Edwards 9/10 5142 days 1%
Mark Irwin 9/10 5146 days 1%
Agnes McMillan 10/10 5147 days 1%
Leslie 9/10 5147 days 1%
Selina Mueller 10/10 5149 days 1%
Jill Dean 10/10 5150 days 1%
Chloe Finster 10/10 5150 days 1%
Vanderhorst 9/10 5151 days 1%
Judith K. 10/10 5153 days 1%
Amanda Wallace 9/10 5153 days 1%
Mark Aarts 10/10 5154 days 1%
Forestal Youri 9/10 5155 days 1%
Dave and Lin Mungham 10/10 5156 days 1%
Jane Hancock 10/10 5158 days 1%
Stephi 10/10 5163 days 1%
Amanda 10/10 5163 days 1%
Mick Doherty 9/10 5194 days 1%
hendrik king 7/10 5194 days 1%
Shoe 10/10 5225 days 1%
marcvergroesen 9/10 5439 days 1%
Jenny Leyland 9/10 5439 days 1%
MarcyMark 10/10 5469 days 1%
katrina Marshall 10/10 5486 days 1%
Von 9/10 5500 days 1%
Judith 8/10 5506 days 1%
Doris Resch 10/10 5506 days 1%
Sheila Morgan 10/10 5509 days 1%
Maria Newton 9/10 5510 days 1%
Faller 10/10 5523 days 1%
Wim Van Gastel 8/10 5526 days 1%
Laura Walters 9/10 5527 days 1%
Chance McGuire 10/10 5528 days 1%
cees juffermans 9/10 5541 days 1%
Markus 10/10 5544 days 1%
Grainne Ahern 10/10 5559 days 1%
sutuckey 10/10 5559 days 1%
Honeymooners 10/10 5559 days 1%
sophiep 9/10 5574 days 1%
chuckchallenger 10/10 5590 days 1%
mdarras 9/10 5594 days 1%
joramv 9/10 5594 days 1%
Michelle Kraemer 10/10 5597 days 1%
Kimberly Skyes 10/10 5597 days 1%
Ruth Colmer 9/10 5600 days 1%
maleta 8/10 5611 days 1%
Simon_and_Jane_OZ 9/10 5804 days 1%
JoF 10/10 5826 days 1%
Christian Kamm 10/10 5831 days 1%
Michael Maddams 7/10 5832 days 1%
Joanna Harrnon 10/10 5833 days 1%
Sarah 8/10 5833 days 1%
David 10/10 5834 days 1%
jjakkeren 9/10 5834 days 1%
Alanna 10/10 5835 days 1%
ElissaH 10/10 5836 days 1%
Andrew Smith 9/10 5840 days 1%
Jean 10/10 5850 days 1%
CarinaB1 10/10 5855 days 1%
Lindsey 9/10 5865 days 1%
Lisa 10/10 5870 days 1%
Laura 8/10 5873 days 1%
kiwibrit86 9/10 5875 days 1%
Visken 10/10 5877 days 1%
Christina 10/10 5882 days 1%
RachaelO 10/10 5884 days 1%
Marianne 10/10 5884 days 1%
Peppa 10/10 5884 days 1%
Jackie 9/10 5898 days 1%
Patrick 9/10 5898 days 1%
Carla 8/10 5900 days 1%
Keith 10/10 5906 days 1%
Saskia 9/10 5906 days 1%
Patrick 10/10 5910 days 1%
Charlie 9/10 5914 days 1%
Ten 10/10 5914 days 1%
Kevin Dangerfield 10/10 5923 days 1%
Graham 9/10 5938 days 1%
David 10/10 5947 days 1%
Eveline 10/10 5947 days 1%
Mette 10/10 5954 days 1%
Rowan 9/10 5979 days 1%
Hanna 10/10 5979 days 1%
Sally Walker 10/10 5985 days 1%
abby 10/10 5991 days 1%
Paul 10/10 6001 days 1%
Peter 10/10 6009 days 1%
Anna 10/10 6031 days 1%
Liz 9/10 6040 days 1%
Laura 8/10 6040 days 1%
Amy Shields 7/10 6044 days 1%
Erin 9/10 6052 days 1%
George Burgas 7/10 6058 days 1%
Sharon Curly 7/10 6066 days 1%
Peddy 8/10 6069 days 1%
Christine 9/10 6082 days 1%
Charlie Bond 8/10 6115 days 1%
SandyS 10/10 6169 days 1%
BexStar 10/10 6182 days 1%
Galen 9/10 6200 days 1%
Monica Black 10/10 6200 days 1%
Denise 10/10 6217 days 1%
Ria 9/10 6221 days 1%
Christian 7/10 6221 days 1%
Wiebke 9/10 6225 days 1%
Phil Connelly 9/10 6226 days 1%
Amanda 9/10 6232 days 1%
Erwin de Kleijn 9/10 6239 days 1%
Nick 10/10 6248 days 1%
John 9/10 6248 days 1%
Sandra Gustafson 10/10 6276 days 1%
Jo 10/10 6276 days 1%
Helena 10/10 6277 days 1%
Seldam 8/10 6282 days 1%
Andrew Purdam 7/10 6290 days 1%
Gerber Liselotte 10/10 6308 days 1%
Gabriela Herger 8/10 6316 days 1%
Jane Coleman 8/10 6319 days 1%
Wendy Williams 9/10 6326 days 1%
Claire 8/10 6550 days 1%
Will 9/10 6550 days 1%
JanKovar 10/10 6552 days 1%
Justin 10/10 6555 days 1%
Beth 9/10 6561 days 1%
Hanneke 9/10 6562 days 1%
Cat 8/10 6564 days 1%
MartinTrenker 9/10 6570 days 1%
Janneke 10/10 6571 days 1%
Renee 9/10 6574 days 1%
Elke 8/10 6589 days 1%
Malon 10/10 6590 days 1%
Ralph 10/10 6599 days 1%
Lucy 10/10 6599 days 1%
Gordon 8/10 6611 days 1%
Beate 9/10 6612 days 1%
MartinJago 8/10 6623 days 1%

Adjustments

Several adjustments to the weighted average are added to improve relevancy and credibility. These adjustments apply equally to all experiences that meet the criteria.

Sample Size Adjustment

No Adjustment

A reasonable number of reviews are necessary in order for the average to be credible and for an experience to take a prime position within the ranking tables. As such, experiences with only a few reviews have a moderated score. This does not mean that the experience or the reviews can't be trusted. The Dolphin Encounter Kaikoura experience has plenty of reviews and does not meet the criteria for any adjustment.

Recent Reviews Adjustment

-3.90% Adjustment

There may be an adjustment if this experience hasn't received any reviews within the last 58 days. However the Dolphin Encounter Kaikoura experience does not meet the criteria for any adjustment.

In addition, an experience's ranking score may be adjusted for each day there is no new ranking. After 1 day the adjustment comes into effect. The maximum number of days that can be adjusted for is 200 days. Due to the seasonal nature of many businesses, this adjustment is applied dynamically throughout the year.

The Dolphin Encounter Kaikoura experience has been adjusted for 200 days. Adjustments are according to the following table.

Days Adjustment
… …
197 -3.84%
198 -3.86%
199 -3.88%
200 -3.90%
201 -3.92%
202 -3.94%
203 -3.96%
… …

Balancing Adjustment

1.12% Adjustment

Every experience's review score is adjusted to balance out the disproportional number of negative reviews that are contributed.

You won't be surprised to learn that disgruntled customers are more likely to leave a review than happy ones. They are motivated to share their experience and warn others. We consider this a good thing and it's why reading the reviews is important. However we've learned it can misrepresent the experience in a more overall sense.

We apply a balancing adjustment to counteract this effect and ensure the ranking score is a more fair representation of the experience. This adjustment is applied equally to all experiences.

Final Ranking Score

90%

The final ranking score once any adjustments, ratings, and rounding has been applied. This value is recalculated each day and a short rolling average is applied. Therefore it may not be precisely accurate based on the other values presented.