A ranked list of certain objects is a list sorted according to a specific criterion. Moreover, the choice of such a criterion can be based on various motives.
Formation of a ranked list
In essence, the ranking procedure is a process of ordering objects depending on the value of a particular attribute corresponding to a given object. This term is based on the word "rank", which, in turn, comes from the English-language term "rank", which can be translated as "category", "rank", "class".
From the point of view of the technical side of the procedure, the ranking is based on a certain algorithm for assigning ranks to each of the objects included in the set under consideration. Thus, the most common algorithm is based on the principle that an object with a maximum attribute value is assigned the highest rank, and an object with a minimum attribute value is assigned the lowest rank. In this case, the highest rank is 1, and the lowest is the number corresponding to the number of objects in the analyzed set. So, for example, if height is considered the ranking criterion in a group of 15 boys, then rank 1 will be given to the tallest boy with a height of 192 centimeters, and rank 15 - the shortest boy with a height of 165 centimeters.
In this case, if two or more objects are characterized by the same attribute values, they are assigned equal ranks, each of which is equal to the arithmetic mean of the sum of the ranks under consideration. For example, when ranking according to the results of control work in a group of 5 people, one may encounter a situation where one of its members received a grade of 5, one - grade 3, and three - grade 4. Thus, an excellent student will receive a rank of 1, a C grade - a rank 5. In this case, students who received a grade of 4 will be assigned the same rank: it should be calculated as the arithmetic mean of the ranks that will be divided between them, namely, ranks 2, 3 and 4. Thus, the average rank of these students = (2 + 3 + 4) / 3 = 3.
Ranked lists
In practice, in modern Russia, the construction of ranked lists is most actively used by educational institutions, which thus streamline applicants wishing to enter a given university or other institution. In this case, the ranking criterion is the amount of points that each graduate received in all exams that are compulsory for admission.
Based on this indicator, ranked lists of applicants are built, in which the highest positions are occupied by young people who have scored the highest total number of points, and the lowest - by those who have scored the least points. On the basis of these lists, which are also sometimes called the ratings of applicants, enrollment is subsequently carried out.
