Which question type should be used to rank items in Qualtrics?

The Rank Order question type is specifically designed for situations where respondents need to prioritize or rank a list of items based on their preferences or opinions. This question format allows participants to indicate their order of preference among the options provided, making it ideal for collecting data on rankings.

When using the Rank Order question type, respondents can easily drag and drop items to arrange them in a way that accurately reflects their priorities. This captures nuanced insights into how different items compare against each other in terms of importance or preference.

In contrast, other question types do not serve the same purpose. For example, a Multiple Choice question typically allows respondents to select only one option, which doesn’t provide information about how various items relate to one another in terms of ranking. A Matrix Table is useful for grouping multiple items and scoring or rating them, but it doesn't facilitate an overall ranking. Text Entry is meant for open-ended responses, which wouldn’t provide a structured ranking of items.

Thus, when the goal is to understand the relative importance or preference of multiple items, the Rank Order question type is the most fitting choice.