Introduction
The rating queue method is basically a system whereby a set of criteria is established, and prescreening entries are thus rated based on those criteria according to a specified scale. This rating queue method is useful in established contexts such as competition, or research projects, whereby preliminary, and then final decisions must be made regarding which entries are to be accepted and which are to be rejected. Making decisions using systematic, prespecified criteria which is then applied to entries can be a more even and often more successful method of evaluating than happening randomly, or with certain discriminatory preferences in mind.
What Rating Queue Entails
In a rating queue system, it is necessary to first determine the prescribed criteria which entries are to be rated according to; in research, this may depend on the type of evidence and credibility offered by a research project, in a competition this could be down to the quality of the artistic or crafted entry, or whatever criteria is determined to be necessary for judgement in the specified context. These criteria need to be explicitly outlined, and then must be applied to entries to form a reliable and consistent rating from which to evaluate the entries.
The rating scale is usually a numerical assessment, or sometimes a pass/fail system, sometimes in combination with a numerical rating. In any case, the scale should be defined by the prespecified criteria, and should be tailored to the individual context. For example, in a writing competition the criteria could be grammar, accuracy, originality, and the scale could be a rating out of 10 for each criteria, or even a 3-point assessment (1:Excellent, 2:Acceptable, 3:Poor). This scale needs to be applied consistently by all judges, or those determining the ratings to ensure a reliable, unbiased judgment system.
Benefits of Rating Queue
The rating queue system can be used to streamline and simplify the evaluation of entries. Many contexts can be applied to this method, with differing scales and criteria being evaluated for different scenarios, but it ultimately works in the same way. This method is vastly superior to simply arbitrarily making decisions and selections, as each entry will receive an honest, unbiased judgment and be evaluated with fair criteria. This too helps maintain consistency and reliability with the evaluation process.
Furthermore, the rating queue method can be more efficient than other methods of prescreening and evaluation. Rather than requiring repeated second-guessing of decisions, the benchmark has already been laid down and all entries can be rated based on one universal standard. This also assists in clearly comparing entries and helps to provide a sense of fairness regarding the evaluations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the rating queue method is a useful way of evaluating and prescreening entries to provide a fair and consistent set of criteria. The criteria, scale, and rating all need to be established beforehand in order to ensure a successful rating queue, however, the benefits of such a process far outweigh other, more subjective, methods. It is straightforward, reliable, and efficient and should be considered for any situation whereby entries must be evaluated, especially for more formal circumstances.