Back

Ranking Score Explained

G'day, 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.

CC
Cymen Crick's avatar

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

93.05%

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 9/10 493 days 100%
Lisa 10/10 1192 days 32%
Michael Holm 9/10 2709 days 3%
Stefan Zink 10/10 2961 days 3%
Fentrup 9/10 2967 days 3%
Katharina Koch 10/10 2971 days 3%
Aurelie and Ben Marie 9/10 2973 days 3%
Sebastian Braun 9/10 3061 days 2%
Joanne Woo 10/10 3078 days 2%
Chris 6/10 3109 days 2%
Olivier Reculeau 10/10 3295 days 2%
Susanne Breudel 10/10 3300 days 2%
Josh Legge 10/10 3308 days 2%
Daniel Weber 9/10 3310 days 2%
Virginia Fradin 10/10 3314 days 2%
Olivier Anciaux 9/10 3317 days 2%
Wendy van Boom 10/10 3317 days 2%
Bas Hoogteijling 10/10 3320 days 2%
Mira Huckfield 10/10 3330 days 2%
Maike Santelmann 10/10 3342 days 2%
Levin Stuers 10/10 3347 days 2%
magdalena gomez haedo 9/10 3350 days 2%
Lucca Weisbender 10/10 3352 days 2%
Anna Scholten 10/10 3353 days 2%
Nils Kissel 10/10 3363 days 2%
Madita and Lisann 10/10 3399 days 2%
sanneke tangel 10/10 3405 days 2%
Georgia Coleman 10/10 3405 days 2%
Virgil Spruit 8/10 3409 days 2%
Xue Rong Kok 7/10 3414 days 1%
Anthony Jacobs 10/10 3536 days 1%
Sofie Jebsen 10/10 3679 days 1%
Tobias 10/10 3679 days 1%
Annika Funk 10/10 3715 days 1%
Dawn Mulligan 10/10 3731 days 1%
Christophe Scieszka 10/10 3748 days 1%
Hubert 8/10 3788 days 1%
Ondrej Stepanek 8/10 4024 days 0%
Boneschova Jarka 10/10 4024 days 0%
Heike Heller 10/10 4033 days 0%
Andreas Mouteiro 9/10 4033 days 0%
Josefin Lind 10/10 4034 days 0%
Herman Holmgist 10/10 4034 days 0%
Felicitas 9/10 4056 days 0%
Antoine 8/10 4064 days 0%
Mara K 10/10 4083 days 0%
Emilie Chanbon 10/10 4086 days 0%
Alexis Redor 10/10 4086 days 0%
Julia Amberger 8/10 4105 days 0%
Annalina Drebald 8/10 4105 days 0%
balesdent 9/10 4111 days 0%
Alineet Gautier 10/10 4114 days 0%
Annika Schmidt 10/10 4394 days 1%
Patrick Stoeit 10/10 4394 days 1%
Audrey Ripoche 9/10 4396 days 1%
Rey Germain 9/10 4396 days 1%
Christofer Tonn 10/10 4406 days 1%
Ann Furlong 10/10 4414 days 1%
Trudy Ryan 8/10 4414 days 1%
Jill Fischer 10/10 4420 days 1%
Kim 10/10 4420 days 1%
Francois Marchar 9/10 4430 days 1%
Jan Zimmerman 10/10 4435 days 1%
Elvin Teo 10/10 4448 days 1%
Rob 9/10 4496 days 1%
Andreas Garbin 10/10 4498 days 1%
Joanna 9/10 4516 days 1%
Mellow 10/10 4540 days 1%
whalelover88 10/10 4692 days 1%
Jos Schieveen 8/10 4764 days 1%
Goran Backlund 9/10 4770 days 1%
Nathan Sait 10/10 4777 days 1%
Toby Clark 10/10 4777 days 1%
Maxine Gilman 10/10 4780 days 1%
Harald 9/10 4794 days 1%
Dominik Langenegger 9/10 4796 days 1%
Rebecca Richardson 9/10 4796 days 1%
Andrew Powell 9/10 4796 days 1%
Peter Field 10/10 4796 days 1%
Eric Lombaard 8/10 4797 days 1%
Nicholas Prakenhammar 10/10 4798 days 1%
Peter Wall 7/10 4798 days 0%
Verne Heath 8/10 4799 days 1%
John O'Donnell 10/10 4800 days 1%
Paul Fairbrass 10/10 4807 days 1%
Frank Krivauek 10/10 4808 days 1%
Rocco Christian 7/10 4808 days 0%
Kurt & Noemi Buhler 7/10 4809 days 0%
Therese 7/10 4812 days 0%
Katie K 9/10 4823 days 1%
CMJ 10/10 4845 days 1%
Jacqueline 10/10 4876 days 1%
Marc & Pauline 9/10 4882 days 1%
Kevin & Chris 9/10 4883 days 1%
Robin & Sandra Dijke 9/10 4885 days 1%
Laura McCusker 8/10 4892 days 1%
Dexter 10/10 5089 days 1%
Jasmin Loeffler 10/10 5095 days 1%
Natascha Rachel 10/10 5095 days 1%
Res Kormann 10/10 5108 days 1%
Sarah James 10/10 5119 days 1%
Nick Taylor 10/10 5119 days 1%
Nicola Young 10/10 5119 days 1%
Stefan Elsenbruch 9/10 5124 days 1%
Stefanie 7/10 5134 days 0%
Koen Vanlede 10/10 5137 days 1%
Van Vliet 8/10 5138 days 1%
Vanessa Vogel 10/10 5141 days 1%
Marcel Camsch 9/10 5143 days 1%
Keely & Mark Haynes 10/10 5144 days 1%
Svea Sauter 10/10 5144 days 1%
henriket 10/10 5145 days 1%
Amanda Wells 10/10 5145 days 1%
K & J Overton 9/10 5145 days 1%
Jerry & Floon 9/10 5149 days 1%
Bartl 10/10 5149 days 1%
travellingfamilyof6 10/10 5151 days 1%
WeddingMaven 10/10 5151 days 1%
Lieve Verdonck 8/10 5152 days 1%
Victoria Purver 8/10 5154 days 1%
Thelia Beament 9/10 5154 days 1%
Edwards 9/10 5158 days 1%
Mark Irwin 9/10 5162 days 1%
Agnes McMillan 10/10 5163 days 1%
Leslie 9/10 5163 days 1%
Selina Mueller 10/10 5165 days 1%
Jill Dean 10/10 5166 days 1%
Chloe Finster 10/10 5166 days 1%
Vanderhorst 9/10 5167 days 1%
Judith K. 10/10 5169 days 1%
Amanda Wallace 9/10 5169 days 1%
Mark Aarts 10/10 5170 days 1%
Forestal Youri 9/10 5171 days 1%
Dave and Lin Mungham 10/10 5172 days 1%
Jane Hancock 10/10 5174 days 1%
Stephi 10/10 5179 days 1%
Amanda 10/10 5179 days 1%
Mick Doherty 9/10 5210 days 1%
hendrik king 7/10 5210 days 0%
Shoe 10/10 5241 days 1%
marcvergroesen 9/10 5454 days 1%
Jenny Leyland 9/10 5454 days 1%
MarcyMark 10/10 5485 days 1%
katrina Marshall 10/10 5502 days 1%
Von 9/10 5516 days 1%
Judith 8/10 5522 days 1%
Doris Resch 10/10 5522 days 1%
Sheila Morgan 10/10 5525 days 1%
Maria Newton 9/10 5526 days 1%
Faller 10/10 5539 days 1%
Wim Van Gastel 8/10 5542 days 1%
Laura Walters 9/10 5543 days 1%
Chance McGuire 10/10 5544 days 1%
cees juffermans 9/10 5557 days 1%
Markus 10/10 5560 days 1%
Grainne Ahern 10/10 5575 days 1%
sutuckey 10/10 5575 days 1%
Honeymooners 10/10 5575 days 1%
sophiep 9/10 5590 days 1%
chuckchallenger 10/10 5606 days 1%
mdarras 9/10 5610 days 1%
joramv 9/10 5610 days 1%
Michelle Kraemer 10/10 5613 days 1%
Kimberly Skyes 10/10 5613 days 1%
Ruth Colmer 9/10 5616 days 1%
maleta 8/10 5627 days 1%
Simon_and_Jane_OZ 9/10 5819 days 1%
JoF 10/10 5841 days 1%
Christian Kamm 10/10 5847 days 1%
Michael Maddams 7/10 5848 days 0%
Joanna Harrnon 10/10 5849 days 1%
Sarah 8/10 5849 days 1%
David 10/10 5850 days 1%
jjakkeren 9/10 5850 days 1%
Alanna 10/10 5851 days 1%
ElissaH 10/10 5852 days 1%
Andrew Smith 9/10 5856 days 1%
Jean 10/10 5866 days 1%
CarinaB1 10/10 5871 days 1%
Lindsey 9/10 5881 days 1%
Lisa 10/10 5886 days 1%
Laura 8/10 5889 days 1%
kiwibrit86 9/10 5891 days 1%
Visken 10/10 5893 days 1%
Christina 10/10 5898 days 1%
RachaelO 10/10 5900 days 1%
Marianne 10/10 5900 days 1%
Peppa 10/10 5900 days 1%
Jackie 9/10 5914 days 1%
Patrick 9/10 5914 days 1%
Carla 8/10 5916 days 1%
Keith 10/10 5921 days 1%
Saskia 9/10 5922 days 1%
Patrick 10/10 5926 days 1%
Charlie 9/10 5930 days 1%
Ten 10/10 5930 days 1%
Kevin Dangerfield 10/10 5939 days 1%
Graham 9/10 5954 days 1%
David 10/10 5963 days 1%
Eveline 10/10 5963 days 1%
Mette 10/10 5970 days 1%
Rowan 9/10 5995 days 1%
Hanna 10/10 5995 days 1%
Sally Walker 10/10 6001 days 1%
abby 10/10 6006 days 1%
Paul 10/10 6017 days 1%
Peter 10/10 6025 days 1%
Anna 10/10 6047 days 1%
Liz 9/10 6056 days 1%
Laura 8/10 6056 days 1%
Amy Shields 7/10 6060 days 0%
Erin 9/10 6068 days 1%
George Burgas 7/10 6074 days 0%
Sharon Curly 7/10 6082 days 0%
Peddy 8/10 6084 days 1%
Christine 9/10 6098 days 1%
Charlie Bond 8/10 6131 days 1%
SandyS 10/10 6184 days 1%
BexStar 10/10 6198 days 1%
Galen 9/10 6216 days 1%
Monica Black 10/10 6216 days 1%
Denise 10/10 6233 days 1%
Ria 9/10 6237 days 1%
Christian 7/10 6237 days 0%
Wiebke 9/10 6241 days 1%
Phil Connelly 9/10 6242 days 1%
Amanda 9/10 6248 days 1%
Erwin de Kleijn 9/10 6255 days 1%
Nick 10/10 6264 days 1%
John 9/10 6264 days 1%
Sandra Gustafson 10/10 6292 days 1%
Jo 10/10 6292 days 1%
Helena 10/10 6293 days 1%
Seldam 8/10 6298 days 1%
Andrew Purdam 7/10 6306 days 0%
Gerber Liselotte 10/10 6324 days 1%
Gabriela Herger 8/10 6332 days 1%
Jane Coleman 8/10 6335 days 1%
Wendy Williams 9/10 6342 days 1%
Claire 8/10 6565 days 1%
Will 9/10 6565 days 1%
JanKovar 10/10 6567 days 1%
Justin 10/10 6570 days 1%
Beth 9/10 6576 days 1%
Hanneke 9/10 6577 days 1%
Cat 8/10 6579 days 1%
MartinTrenker 9/10 6585 days 1%
Janneke 10/10 6586 days 1%
Renee 9/10 6589 days 1%
Elke 8/10 6605 days 1%
Malon 10/10 6606 days 1%
Ralph 10/10 6615 days 1%
Lucy 10/10 6615 days 1%
Gordon 8/10 6627 days 1%
Beate 9/10 6628 days 1%
MartinJago 8/10 6639 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

-3.64% Adjustment

There may be an adjustment if this experience hasn't received any reviews within the last 61 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 -3.59%
198 -3.61%
199 -3.63%
200 -3.64%
201 -3.66%
202 -3.68%
203 -3.70%
… …

Balancing Adjustment

1.08% 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.