Built on matrix. Time Based Rating replaces static scale points with an animated rating indicator — a row of numbered "pips" (dots) or a star fill — that the respondent slides and holds (or taps +/- to drive) to register a rating tied to timing as well as position.
What respondents see#
Each statement shows a rating indicator — either a pip row or a 5-star fill — that animates as the respondent holds a control (arrow, plus/minus, or drag-hold, depending on configuration). The respondent stops the fill at their desired point, or it auto-completes; star mode always uses the slide-and-hold gesture regardless of the configured bar type.
When to use it#
- Studies that want a reaction-time or intensity signal alongside the rating itself.
- A more engaging, tactile alternative to a static scale for long batteries.
- Concept or brand rating grids where you want visual color-coded feedback (green/red progress) as respondents rate.
Configuring it in the builder#
Drag Time Based Rating from the Custom Interfaces group. Choose the variant (multi-statement grid vs. multi-question single) and the rating display (pips vs. stars), then tune the settings below. Statement rows are authored the same way as a standard matrix.
Settings reference#
| Setting | What it controls | Default |
|---|---|---|
variant | multi_statement (grid, rows show images) or multi_question (one concept, multiple metrics, rows show text only) | multi_statement |
ratingDisplay | pips (numbered dots) or stars (star fill, always slide-and-hold) | pips |
noOfStars / pointScale (stars mode only) | Number of stars (3–10), whole (1) vs. half-star (0.5) precision | 5 / 0.5 |
ratingType (pips mode only) | Scale shape: Left from 0, Left from 1, or Centered (requires an odd nRating) | Centered |
nRating (pips mode only) | Number of rating points on the pip scale (3–21) | 11 |
highLightNumber (pips mode only) | Which pip is highlighted before the respondent interacts | 0 |
withNumbers (pips mode only) | Show the numeric value inside each pip | true |
showPositivesOnly (Centered pips only) | Display only absolute values in the UI; the stored value stays signed | false |
isSingleEnlarge (pips mode only) | Enlarge only the single currently-selected pip | false |
ratingBarType (pips mode only) | Interaction: arrow, plus-minus, or drag-hold | plus-minus |
| Questions (Rows) Display (Settings tab, shared control, multi-statement only) | Image only / text only / both for each row — replaces the old "Show Row Labels" toggle | Image + label |
| Question text below row / Rating dots above bar | Position of the question text and pip row relative to the image and rating bar | Off / Off |
justifyText | Question text alignment: left, center, right | center |
animationSpeed / pipAnimationSpeed / intervalDuration | Progress-bar fill speed (s), per-pip animation speed (s), and dot auto-fill cadence (ms) while dragging/holding | 3 / 0.2 / 100 |
desktopConceptHeight / mobileConceptHeight | Concept image area height (% of viewport, 30–70 desktop / 30–65 mobile) | 75 / 65 |
zoomThumbnail | Allow tapping a concept thumbnail to open a full-screen view | Off |
Text & color tab — leftText / rightText | Scale anchor labels | "Not at all likely" / "Extremely likely" |
Text & color tab — nextBtnText, tapToViewText, tapToCloseText, slideText | Button and instructional micro-copy | "Next", "Tap to view full size concept", "Tap to close", "Slide & Hold" |
| Text & color tab — pip/progress/star colors | 8 color pickers: default/left/right pip color, light/dark progress colors for left and right, and filled/empty star color | Preset palette (green-right / purple-left) |
Good to know:
- Time Based Rating stores a numeric rating per statement, not a selection count — unlike most other tap-based Custom Interface plugins, which record which option was tapped.
- Row image/text display isn't a plugin-specific toggle — it's the same Questions (Rows) Display tri-state other matrix-based plugins use; the old dedicated "Show Row Labels" switch was removed to avoid a duplicate, out-of-sync control.
- Selection Limits (Validation tab) don't apply to this plugin — there's nothing to select, only a rating per row.
Logic support#
Built on matrix, so it supports the same condition operators as a standard matrix question (rating comparisons, answered/not answered per row). See Logic, Flow & Conditions.
Related guides#
- Question Types — overview and when-to-use table
- Custom Interfaces — all 22 custom interface formats
- Logic, Flow & Conditions — operators and condition builder
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