Ranking Score Explained

Hi there, 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.

Nick Morrison's avatar

Nick Morrison

Rankers owner

Dolphin Encounter Kaikoura

Valid Reviews

254 Valid Reviews

The Dolphin Encounter Kaikoura experience has a total of 256 reviews. There are 254 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 254 valid reviews:

Rating Count Percentage
10/10 135
53%
9/10 74
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%

92.95% Average

The raw data average (mean) for all the Dolphin Encounter Kaikoura valid reviews is 92.95% and is based on 254 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 254 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

93.10%

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 Face-to-Face Weight Relative Weight
Michael Holm 9/10 469 days true 78.17 100%
Stefan Zink 10/10 721 days true 32.6 41%
Fentrup 9/10 727 days true 31.75 40%
Katharina Koch 10/10 731 days true 31.19 39%
Aurelie and Ben Marie 9/10 733 days true 30.92 39%
Sebastian Braun 9/10 821 days true 20.28 25%
Joanne Woo 10/10 838 days 15.47 19%
Chris 6/10 869 days 13.09 16%
Olivier Reculeau 10/10 1055 days true 6.3 7%
Susanne Breudel 10/10 1060 days true 6.23 7%
Josh Legge 10/10 1068 days true 6.14 7%
Daniel Weber 9/10 1070 days true 6.12 7%
Virginia Fradin 10/10 1074 days true 6.08 7%
Olivier Anciaux 9/10 1077 days true 6.06 7%
Wendy van Boom 10/10 1077 days true 6.06 7%
Bas Hoogteijling 10/10 1080 days true 6.04 7%
Mira Huckfield 10/10 1090 days true 6.0 7%
Maike Santelmann 10/10 1102 days true 5.99 7%
Levin Stuers 10/10 1107 days true 5.98 7%
magdalena gomez haedo 9/10 1110 days 4.98 6%
Lucca Weisbender 10/10 1112 days 4.98 6%
Anna Scholten 10/10 1113 days true 5.97 7%
Nils Kissel 10/10 1123 days 4.96 6%
Madita and Lisann 10/10 1159 days true 5.89 7%
sanneke tangel 10/10 1165 days true 5.88 7%
Georgia Coleman 10/10 1165 days true 5.88 7%
Virgil Spruit 8/10 1169 days true 5.88 7%
Xue Rong Kok 7/10 1174 days 4.89 6%
Anthony Jacobs 10/10 1296 days 4.72 5%
Sofie Jebsen 10/10 1439 days true 5.43 6%
Tobias 10/10 1439 days true 5.43 6%
Annika Funk 10/10 1475 days true 5.38 6%
Dawn Mulligan 10/10 1491 days true 5.35 6%
Christophe Scieszka 10/10 1508 days 4.43 5%
Hubert 8/10 1548 days true 5.26 6%
Ondrej Stepanek 8/10 1784 days true 4.87 6%
Boneschova Jarka 10/10 1784 days true 4.87 6%
Heike Heller 10/10 1793 days true 4.85 6%
Andreas Mouteiro 9/10 1793 days true 4.85 6%
Josefin Lind 10/10 1794 days true 4.85 6%
Herman Holmgist 10/10 1794 days true 4.85 6%
Felicitas 9/10 1816 days true 4.81 5%
Antoine 8/10 1824 days true 4.8 5%
Mara K 10/10 1843 days 3.98 4%
Emilie Chanbon 10/10 1846 days true 4.77 5%
Alexis Redor 10/10 1846 days true 4.77 5%
Julia Amberger 8/10 1865 days true 4.73 5%
Annalina Drebald 8/10 1865 days true 4.73 5%
balesdent 9/10 1871 days true 4.72 5%
Alineet Gautier 10/10 1874 days true 4.72 5%
Annika Schmidt 10/10 2154 days true 4.26 5%
Patrick Stoeit 10/10 2154 days true 4.26 5%
Audrey Ripoche 9/10 2156 days true 4.26 5%
Rey Germain 9/10 2156 days true 4.26 5%
Christofer Tonn 10/10 2166 days true 4.24 5%
Ann Furlong 10/10 2174 days true 4.23 5%
Trudy Ryan 8/10 2174 days true 4.23 5%
Jill Fischer 10/10 2180 days 3.51 4%
Kim 10/10 2180 days 3.51 4%
Francois Marchar 9/10 2190 days true 4.2 5%
Jan Zimmerman 10/10 2195 days true 4.19 5%
Elvin Teo 10/10 2208 days 3.48 4%
Rob 9/10 2256 days true 4.09 5%
Andreas Garbin 10/10 2258 days true 4.09 5%
Joanna 9/10 2276 days true 4.06 4%
Mellow 10/10 2300 days 3.35 4%
whalelover88 10/10 2453 days 3.14 3%
Jos Schieveen 8/10 2524 days true 3.65 4%
Goran Backlund 9/10 2530 days true 3.64 4%
Nathan Sait 10/10 2537 days true 3.63 4%
Toby Clark 10/10 2537 days true 3.63 4%
Maxine Gilman 10/10 2540 days true 3.62 4%
Harald 9/10 2554 days true 3.6 4%
Dominik Langenegger 9/10 2556 days true 3.6 4%
Rebecca Richardson 9/10 2556 days true 3.6 4%
Andrew Powell 9/10 2556 days true 3.6 4%
Peter Field 10/10 2556 days true 3.6 4%
Eric Lombaard 8/10 2557 days true 3.6 4%
Nicholas Prakenhammar 10/10 2558 days true 3.6 4%
Peter Wall 7/10 2558 days true 3.6 4%
Verne Heath 8/10 2559 days true 3.59 4%
John O'Donnell 10/10 2560 days true 3.59 4%
Paul Fairbrass 10/10 2567 days true 3.58 4%
Frank Krivauek 10/10 2568 days true 3.58 4%
Rocco Christian 7/10 2568 days true 3.58 4%
Kurt & Noemi Buhler 7/10 2569 days true 3.58 4%
Therese 7/10 2572 days true 3.57 4%
Katie K 9/10 2583 days true 3.55 4%
CMJ 10/10 2605 days 2.93 3%
Jacqueline 10/10 2636 days 2.89 3%
Marc & Pauline 9/10 2642 days true 3.46 4%
Kevin & Chris 9/10 2643 days true 3.46 4%
Robin & Sandra Dijke 9/10 2645 days true 3.45 4%
Laura McCusker 8/10 2652 days true 3.44 4%
Dexter 10/10 2850 days 2.6 3%
Jasmin Loeffler 10/10 2856 days true 3.11 3%
Natascha Rachel 10/10 2856 days true 3.11 3%
Res Kormann 10/10 2869 days true 3.08 3%
Sarah James 10/10 2879 days true 3.07 3%
Nick Taylor 10/10 2879 days true 3.07 3%
Nicola Young 10/10 2879 days true 3.07 3%
Stefan Elsenbruch 9/10 2884 days true 3.06 3%
Stefanie 7/10 2894 days true 3.04 3%
Koen Vanlede 10/10 2897 days true 3.04 3%
Van Vliet 8/10 2898 days true 3.04 3%
Vanessa Vogel 10/10 2901 days true 3.03 3%
Marcel Camsch 9/10 2903 days true 3.03 3%
Keely & Mark Haynes 10/10 2904 days true 3.03 3%
Svea Sauter 10/10 2904 days true 3.03 3%
henriket 10/10 2905 days true 3.02 3%
Amanda Wells 10/10 2905 days true 3.02 3%
K & J Overton 9/10 2905 days true 3.02 3%
Jerry & Floon 9/10 2909 days true 3.02 3%
Bartl 10/10 2909 days true 3.02 3%
travellingfamilyof6 10/10 2911 days 2.51 3%
WeddingMaven 10/10 2911 days 2.51 3%
Lieve Verdonck 8/10 2912 days true 3.01 3%
Victoria Purver 8/10 2914 days true 3.01 3%
Thelia Beament 9/10 2914 days true 3.01 3%
Edwards 9/10 2918 days true 3.0 3%
Mark Irwin 9/10 2922 days true 3.0 3%
Agnes McMillan 10/10 2923 days true 3.0 3%
Leslie 9/10 2923 days true 3.0 3%
Selina Mueller 10/10 2925 days true 2.99 3%
Jill Dean 10/10 2926 days true 2.99 3%
Chloe Finster 10/10 2926 days true 2.99 3%
Vanderhorst 9/10 2927 days true 2.99 3%
Judith K. 10/10 2929 days true 2.99 3%
Amanda Wallace 9/10 2929 days true 2.99 3%
Mark Aarts 10/10 2930 days true 2.98 3%
Forestal Youri 9/10 2931 days true 2.98 3%
Dave and Lin Mungham 10/10 2932 days true 2.98 3%
Jane Hancock 10/10 2934 days true 2.98 3%
Stephi 10/10 2939 days 2.47 2%
Amanda 10/10 2939 days 2.47 2%
Mick Doherty 9/10 2970 days 2.43 2%
hendrik king 7/10 2970 days 2.43 2%
Shoe 10/10 3001 days 2.39 2%
marcvergroesen 9/10 3215 days 2.1 2%
Jenny Leyland 9/10 3215 days 2.1 2%
MarcyMark 10/10 3245 days 2.05 2%
katrina Marshall 10/10 3262 days true 2.44 2%
Von 9/10 3276 days 2.01 2%
Judith 8/10 3282 days true 2.4 2%
Doris Resch 10/10 3282 days true 2.4 2%
Sheila Morgan 10/10 3285 days true 2.4 2%
Maria Newton 9/10 3286 days true 2.4 2%
Faller 10/10 3299 days true 2.38 2%
Wim Van Gastel 8/10 3302 days true 2.37 2%
Laura Walters 9/10 3303 days true 2.37 2%
Chance McGuire 10/10 3304 days 1.97 2%
cees juffermans 9/10 3317 days true 2.35 2%
Markus 10/10 3320 days true 2.34 2%
Grainne Ahern 10/10 3335 days 1.93 2%
sutuckey 10/10 3335 days 1.93 2%
Honeymooners 10/10 3335 days 1.93 2%
sophiep 9/10 3350 days true 2.29 2%
chuckchallenger 10/10 3366 days 1.89 2%
mdarras 9/10 3370 days true 2.26 2%
joramv 9/10 3370 days true 2.26 2%
Michelle Kraemer 10/10 3373 days true 2.26 2%
Kimberly Skyes 10/10 3373 days true 2.26 2%
Ruth Colmer 9/10 3376 days true 2.25 2%
maleta 8/10 3387 days true 2.23 2%
Simon_and_Jane_OZ 9/10 3580 days 1.6 1%
JoF 10/10 3602 days true 1.88 2%
Christian Kamm 10/10 3607 days true 1.87 2%
Michael Maddams 7/10 3608 days true 1.87 2%
Joanna Harrnon 10/10 3609 days true 1.87 2%
Sarah 8/10 3609 days true 1.87 2%
David 10/10 3610 days 1.55 1%
jjakkeren 9/10 3610 days true 1.87 2%
Alanna 10/10 3611 days true 1.86 2%
ElissaH 10/10 3612 days true 1.86 2%
Andrew Smith 9/10 3616 days true 1.86 2%
Jean 10/10 3626 days true 1.84 2%
CarinaB1 10/10 3631 days true 1.83 2%
Lindsey 9/10 3641 days 1.51 1%
Lisa 10/10 3646 days true 1.81 2%
Laura 8/10 3649 days true 1.8 2%
kiwibrit86 9/10 3651 days 1.5 1%
Visken 10/10 3653 days true 1.8 2%
Christina 10/10 3658 days true 1.79 2%
RachaelO 10/10 3660 days true 1.78 2%
Marianne 10/10 3660 days true 1.78 2%
Peppa 10/10 3660 days true 1.78 2%
Jackie 9/10 3674 days true 1.76 2%
Patrick 9/10 3674 days true 1.76 2%
Carla 8/10 3676 days true 1.76 2%
Keith 10/10 3681 days 1.46 1%
Saskia 9/10 3682 days true 1.75 2%
Patrick 10/10 3686 days true 1.74 2%
Charlie 9/10 3690 days true 1.73 2%
Ten 10/10 3690 days true 1.73 2%
Kevin Dangerfield 10/10 3699 days 1.43 1%
Graham 9/10 3714 days true 1.69 1%
David 10/10 3723 days true 1.68 1%
Eveline 10/10 3723 days true 1.68 1%
Mette 10/10 3730 days true 1.67 1%
Rowan 9/10 3755 days true 1.63 1%
Hanna 10/10 3755 days true 1.63 1%
Sally Walker 10/10 3761 days 1.35 1%
abby 10/10 3766 days true 1.61 1%
Paul 10/10 3777 days true 1.59 1%
Peter 10/10 3785 days true 1.58 1%
Anna 10/10 3807 days true 1.54 1%
Liz 9/10 3816 days true 1.53 1%
Laura 8/10 3816 days true 1.53 1%
Amy Shields 7/10 3820 days true 1.52 1%
Erin 9/10 3828 days true 1.51 1%
George Burgas 7/10 3834 days true 1.5 1%
Sharon Curly 7/10 3842 days true 1.48 1%
Peddy 8/10 3845 days 1.23 1%
Christine 9/10 3858 days true 1.46 1%
Charlie Bond 8/10 3891 days true 1.4 1%
SandyS 10/10 3945 days 1.1 1%
BexStar 10/10 3958 days 1.08 1%
Galen 9/10 3976 days true 1.26 1%
Monica Black 10/10 3976 days true 1.26 1%
Denise 10/10 3993 days true 1.24 1%
Ria 9/10 3997 days true 1.23 1%
Christian 7/10 3997 days true 1.23 1%
Wiebke 9/10 4001 days true 1.22 1%
Phil Connelly 9/10 4002 days true 1.22 1%
Amanda 9/10 4008 days true 1.21 1%
Erwin de Kleijn 9/10 4015 days true 1.2 1%
Nick 10/10 4024 days true 1.19 1%
John 9/10 4024 days true 1.19 1%
Sandra Gustafson 10/10 4052 days true 1.14 1%
Jo 10/10 4052 days true 1.14 1%
Helena 10/10 4053 days true 1.14 1%
Seldam 8/10 4058 days true 1.13 1%
Andrew Purdam 7/10 4066 days 0.93 0%
Gerber Liselotte 10/10 4084 days true 1.09 1%
Gabriela Herger 8/10 4092 days true 1.07 1%
Jane Coleman 8/10 4095 days true 1.07 1%
Wendy Williams 9/10 4102 days true 1.06 1%
Claire 8/10 4326 days true 0.69 0%
Will 9/10 4326 days true 0.69 0%
JanKovar 10/10 4328 days true 0.69 0%
Justin 10/10 4331 days true 0.68 0%
Beth 9/10 4337 days true 0.67 0%
Hanneke 9/10 4338 days true 0.67 0%
Cat 8/10 4340 days true 0.67 0%
MartinTrenker 9/10 4346 days true 0.66 0%
Janneke 10/10 4347 days true 0.65 0%
Renee 9/10 4350 days true 0.65 0%
Elke 8/10 4365 days true 0.62 0%
Malon 10/10 4366 days true 0.62 0%
Ralph 10/10 4375 days true 0.61 0%
Lucy 10/10 4375 days true 0.61 0%
Gordon 8/10 4387 days true 0.59 0%
Beate 9/10 4388 days true 0.59 0%
MartinJago 8/10 4399 days true 0.57 0%

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

-7.28% Adjustment

There may be an adjustment if an experience hasn't received any reviews within the last 60 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 364 days.

The Dolphin Encounter Kaikoura experience has been adjusted for 364 days. Adjustments are according to the following table.

Days Adjustment
……
361 -7.22%
362 -7.24%
363 -7.26%
364 -7.28%
365 -7.30%
366 -7.32%
367 -7.34%
……

Final Ranking Score

86%

The final ranking score once adjustments and rounding has been applied. This value is cached and recalculated each day. Therefore it may not be precisely accurate based on the other values presented.

If you have any questions or comments about our ranking score calculation please get in touch at info@rankers.co.nz.