Shelf Test FAQ¶
Quick answers to the questions we hear most often about Shelf Test. For a fuller walkthrough, see Introduction to Shelf Test.
How many images can I use?
Between two and eight. You need at least two to publish the section.
Is the order the images appear in the same for every respondent?
No. The grid is shuffled for each respondent, so an image's place in the grid can change from one person to the next.
Can a respondent pick more than one image?
Yes, unless you set a maximum. Set the minimum and maximum to match your question. A maximum of one gives a single winner, and a larger number gives a shortlist.
What happens if a respondent taps an image by mistake?
They can tap it again to deselect it. Each tap and untap is recorded, and only the final selection counts toward the picks.
Can respondents see the image labels?
Only if you turn on Show labels to respondents for the section. It's off by default, so the reaction stays visual. See When to Show Labels in a Shelf Test.
Can I use Shelf Test in a Classic Survey?
No. It's a section type for Advanced Surveys, and you can mix it with other section types in the same survey.
Can I copy a section, including its images?
Yes. Duplicating a section copies its image pool. The copy uses the same images, and its labels are its own.
Does Shelf Test tell me why people picked an image?
No. It shows which images people picked and how early they reached for each one. For the reason, add an open-ended question after the section and analyse the answers with Text Analytics.
Can it forecast sales?
Not on its own. Treat the result as a strong input to a decision, and check it against other evidence before committing a budget.
How do I read the results?
See Reading Shelf Test Results.