Custom Math Metrics (Studio)

About Custom Math Metrics

Use a custom math metric to build different mathematical expressions, using different metrics and attributes.

Defining a Custom Math Metric

This section describes what you need to fill out in the Definition tab of your custom math metric.

1. Set the metric type to Custom.
2. Use one of the dropdowns to add a variable to your math formula. You can choose from the following:
   • Attributes: Select an attribute from the list and choose how you want to aggregate it. For a list of ways you can aggregate your attributes, see the Attributes section below.

     Qtip: Instead of selecting from the list, you can also pull attributes using the following syntax:

     Aggregation-type[attribute-name]

     Example:

     average[Age]

   • Metrics: Select a metric from the list. See Metrics below for a list of everything available.
   • Org Hierarchy: Select an enrichment parameter defined for a Studio org hierarchy.

     Qtip: Instead of selecting from the list, you can type the name of the parameter using the following format:

     hierarchy[org-hierarchy-name >> parameter-name]

     Example:

     hierarchy[Acme Hotels >> Target Sentiment]

3. Use these buttons to create expressions in your math formula (e.g., adding values, dividing values, or adding an exponent). You can also type these characters. See Available Math Operations.
4. Use the arrow buttons to undo and redo changes.
5. If you’d like to replace null values with zeros before resolving the expression, click Advanced Options, then select the checkbox.
   Qtip: This is particularly useful for weighted combinations of multiple scores. See Custom Metric Examples.

Attention: You can add up to 10 variables (metrics and / or attributes) to your custom math metrics.

Metrics

You can add metrics to your custom math formulas. A list of all the metrics you created, metrics shared with you, and scorecard metrics will also appear.

You will also see the following premade metrics at the top of the list:

• Volume: Count the number of records from the dataset.
• % Total: Figure out what percent of the total data your filtered subset is. The following formula is used:

  Percent Total = (Number of filtered records from the subset) / (Total number of records)

• % Parent: Find the subset’s filtered volume percentage to the unfiltered volume of the group. The following formula is used:

  Percent Parent = (Number of filtered records from the subset) / (Number of unfiltered records for the group)

  Example: Let’s say we have a metric that calculates percent parent for feedback from Boston. If we use it in a top 10 topics report, each topic’s value for the filter metric will be calculated as follows:

  Percent Parent for Topic A = (Volume where CITY is Boston AND TOPIC is Topic A) / (Volume where TOPIC is Topic A)

• Sentiment: Find the average sentiment of sentences from the dataset.
• Effort: Find the average effort score of sentences from the dataset.
• Emotional Intensity: See Emotional Intensity.

Syntax

Instead of selecting metrics, you can type the following in your formula:

• For premade metrics, you do not need a prefix.

  Example:

  [Volume]

• For scorecard metrics, use the “scorecard” prefix.

  Example:

  scorecard[% Failing - Opening/Closing]

• For user-created metrics, use the “metric” prefix.

  Example:

  metric[My Top Box]

Available Math Operations

Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division

1 + 2 - 3 / 4 * 8 resolves to -3.

Parentheses

Parentheses may be added to specify order of operations.

( 1 + 2 - 3 ) / 4 * 8  resolves to 0.

Exponents

6 ^ 2 resolves to 36.

Absolute Value

To define an absolute value, click the absolute button ( |x| ) and place the value, attribute, or metric inside the parentheses.

abs(-2) would resolve to 2.

abs(average[Bake-Off Score]) would calculate the absolute value of your average Bake-Off Score.

Attributes

You can use an attribute in your metric. Non-numeric attributes are counted as a total number of distinct attribute values (i.e., “count distinct”).

If your attribute is numeric, you’ll be able to set your attribute to any of the following:

• average: The average value of the attribute.
• count: The total number of records containing this attribute.
• count distinct: The total number of distinct attribute values.
  Qtip: If you’re interested in having “count distinct” enabled for numeric attributes, reach out to your Discover representative.
• max: The maximum value of the attribute.
• min: The minimum value of the attribute.
• sum: The sum of the attribute’s values.
• standard deviation: Standard deviation is a statistical measure of the amount of variation of an attribute’s values relative to its mean. The higher the standard deviation, the further an attribute’s values are from the mean.
• variance: Variance is a statistical measure of how far an attribute’s values are spread out from the mean. Variation is the standard deviation squared.
• sum of squares: The sum of squares is a statistical measure of the deviation of an attribute’s values from the mean. The higher the sum of squares, the larger the variability within the dataset.

Tips for Creating Formulas

• In addition to attributes, metrics, and org hierarchy parameters, you can use exact numeric values in your math operations.
• There is a limit of 15 variables (metrics and/or attributes) per custom calculation. Value metrics do not count toward this limit.
• If any part of the custom math metric expression contains a null value, the whole metric will also return a null.
• Start typing the name of an attribute or metric to see a list of suggestions.
• Hover your mouse over an attribute or metric to see additional details.
  
• Use the undo and redo buttons as needed.

Mouse and Keyboard Shortcuts

Examples of Custom Math Metrics

Adjusting Numeric Attributes

By default, when you add a numeric attribute to a widget (such as a score), they’re formatted as averages. You can change this to a sum, but if you want to use something else, like a minimum, custom math metrics can help.

Calculating a Scoring Range

To calculate the score’s range, calculate the difference between the maximum and minimum value of your scoring attribute.

Changing the Scale of a Score

If you want to adjust the scale of a score, you can use a custom match metric.

We use number 3 in the formula to center the scale so that the average score of 3 corresponds to a 0 on the new scale. Everything below 3 will count towards the negative, and everything above 3 will count towards the positive.

Creating a Weighted Average

Here is a weighted average formula with 2 ratings. For every rating you add, make sure to add a sum to the numerator and a count to the denominator.

( sum[Rating1] + sum[Rating2] ) / (count[Rating1] + count[Rating2] )

Calculating Period over Period Change

Report on change over time with a period over period percentage or delta change metric.