Likert Scale

Definition

A Likert scale is a psychometric scale commonly used in surveys to measure attitudes, opinions, or perceptions by offering a range of response options that express varying degrees of agreement or disagreement. Typically, respondents select from a set of ordered options, usually ranging from 'strongly disagree' to 'strongly agree', which quantifies subjective feelings into measurable data. This makes it easier to analyze and interpret responses in research, providing insights into trends and patterns.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Likert scales are often five or seven-point scales, allowing for nuanced responses while still being easy to analyze.
2. They are widely used in social sciences for measuring attitudes towards various subjects, from customer satisfaction to political opinions.
3. Responses on a Likert scale can be treated as ordinal data, meaning they reflect a ranking but do not necessarily indicate equal intervals between points.
4. To improve reliability and validity, Likert scales often include an option for neutral responses or 'neither agree nor disagree'.
5. Data collected through Likert scales can be analyzed using various statistical techniques, including descriptive statistics and inferential methods.

Review Questions

• How does a Likert scale facilitate the measurement of attitudes in research?
  • A Likert scale simplifies the measurement of attitudes by providing a structured format with defined response options ranging from strong disagreement to strong agreement. This allows researchers to quantify subjective feelings into numerical data, which can then be analyzed for trends and correlations. By offering a range of responses, it captures the intensity of participants' attitudes more effectively than simple yes/no questions.
• Discuss the importance of using a Likert scale in surveys compared to other types of response formats.
  • Using a Likert scale in surveys is important because it allows for more nuanced feedback than binary response formats. Unlike simple yes/no questions, a Likert scale captures varying degrees of agreement or disagreement, making it possible to gauge subtle differences in opinion. This depth of data is valuable for researchers aiming to understand complex attitudes and measure changes over time, leading to more informed conclusions and decisions.
• Evaluate the impact of Likert scales on the reliability and validity of survey research findings.
  • Likert scales significantly enhance the reliability and validity of survey research findings by providing a clear structure for participants' responses. The ordered nature of the scale reduces ambiguity and allows for consistent interpretation of results across different respondents. Additionally, incorporating neutral options helps minimize bias by accommodating participants who may not have strong opinions. However, researchers must be mindful that treating Likert data as interval data can lead to misinterpretations; thus, understanding its ordinal nature is crucial for accurate analysis.

Related terms

Survey: A method of gathering information from individuals through questionnaires or interviews to collect data on opinions, behaviors, or characteristics.

Quantitative Research: Research that focuses on quantifying data and analyzing it using statistical methods to understand patterns and correlations.

Ordinal Scale: A scale that arranges items in a specific order based on rank or level of measurement, but does not specify the exact distance between items.