If, on the other hand, the association notices concentration on one end of the scale for all three versions, then it can look at the seven and the ninepoint tests. The ubiquitous likert item the question above, taken from the 2007 british social attitudes survey, is an example of a likert item. The likert scale analysis using parametric based structural equation modeling sem zainudin awang 1, asyraf afthanorhan2, mustafa mamat3 1,2,3 faculty of economics and management sciences,universiti sultan zainal abidin kampus gong badak, 20 kuala terengganu, malaysia. While answers to a single likert question whether 0 to 5 or 1 to 6 or whatever are clearly ordinal, usually there is a sum of several likert scale items. I have used the 5 point likert scale more often than the 3 point likert scale, but tend to recode the 5 point scale into a 3 point scale during my analysis and reporting. Its always part of a closedended question a question that presents respondents with prepopulated answer choices. For example, each of the five or seven responses would have a numerical value which would be used to measure the attitude under investigation. Since the advent of likert scale in 1932, there have been debates among the users about its best possible usability in term of reliability and validity of number of points on the scale 1720. The incredible 5point scale problemsolve behavioral responses of others, troubleshoot past and future social scenarios, and create plans for selfmanagement. It is often used to measure the attitudes of respondents, asking them to what extent they agree or disagree with a particular question or statement. Further, 5point likert scales might not be refined enough to assess a participants precise evaluation of a mechanism.
The cronbachs alphas for the original test ranged from 0. Dear members, i am not completely convinced which likert scale works best for me these days in a questionnaire. A five point likert scale ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree was employed as it has been most recommended by the researchers that it would reduce the frustration level of patient. As per the rule of thumb, in this scale, the 5 point, ranging from most to least agree. There are at least three good reasons why likert items in general, and seven point likert items specifically, can be a dangerous default choice for survey researchers. Dear kostoulas, i am trying to find factors which are most effective, least effective and not effective for a particular event to happen from the responses gathered through questionnaire based on likert scale ordinal data where questionnaire is composed of items with a 5 point scale, ranging from 1strongly disagree to 5strongly agree. In this book, kari dunn buron and mitzi curtis, two teachers from minnesota, share their successful use of the simple concept of 5point scales to help students understand and control their emotional reactions to everyday events that might otherwise set in motion escalating reactions. Participants in the 5 point scale condition were more likely than those presented with the 7 point scale to interpolate, i. The psychometric literature suggests that having more scale points is better but there is a diminishing return after around 11 points nunnally 1978. Aug 25, 2010 the short answer is that 7point scales are a little better than 5pointsbut not by much. Ive been browsing around and have come across many different opinions online. In the field of sla, likert scale questionnaires have most frequently been used in investigations of individual difference variables, such. For each sample take the total score aggeregate and divided by n, that is how you get mean score. This may differ in cases where reverse ordering of the likert scale is needed.
For example, in order to rescale the responses from version 2 of the questionnaire fivepoint scale for ads one and two to a sevenpoint format, the formula implies that a response of 1 on the fivepoint scale has to remain a 1 on the sevenpoint scale and. Alternatively, the mean scores of the responses of each subject can be used so that the scale scores fall in the same 1 to 5 range as the individual items. An alternative format is proposed and tested against the standard approach. Analyzing likert data the journal of extension joe. Looking for better wording for a 7point likert scale. Can you please show me how to include a 6 point scale answer 16 ie. Where should na be placed and how should it be coded on a 7. The purpose of this article is to examine the likert scale in terms of its ability to detect the intensity of feeling that respondents have about their attitudes. When multiple likert question responses are summed together interval data all questions must use the same likert scale must be a defendable approximation to an interval scale i. A likert scale is a psychometric scale that has multiple categories from which respondents choose to indicate their opinions, attitudes, or feelings about a particular issue. What statistical tests should be used on 5 point likert scale questions.
If youre taking a likert survey, youll see a series of statements, and youll be asked to indicate whether you. Understand whenhow to use questionnaires in interaction design surveys satisfaction questionnaires post use. If it sees more sparseness in the ninepoint scale, then it may opt for the sevenpoint scale. Likert scale definition, examples and analysis simply. The original instrument had 10 efficacy items and used a 4point likert scale. A likert scale provides a great way of measuring attitudes, knowledge, perceptions, values, and behavioral changes. A 5item likert scale was created from this instrument by first adding a 3 neutralundecided option and also by adding five negativelyworded items to the instrument. In its final form, the likert scale is a five or seven point scale which is used to allow the individual to express how much they agree or disagree with a particular statement. One of the most common scale types is a likert scale. The short answer is that 7point scales are a little better than 5pointsbut not by much.
A likert scale assumes that the strengthintensity of an attitude is linear, i. Optimal number of response categories in rating scales. Strongly dissatisfied moderately dissatisfied slightly dissatisfied slightly satisfied moderately satisfied strongly satisfied 2. Reporting and interpreting scores derived from likert type scales j. As respondents tend to be more positive than negative it can be advisable to use an unbalan. What statistical tests should be used on 5point likert. Likert items and scales rob johns university of strathclyde 1. I have used the 5point likert scale more often than the 3point likert scale, but tend to recode the 5point scale into a 3point scale during my analysis and reporting. Reporting and interpreting scores derived from likerttype. The likert scale is one of the more popular metrics for attitudinal research. Likert questionnaires have essentially arbitrary score values, so to really get a sense how good a number is, you need relate it to something. The 7point likert scale is also a good format to use if the questionnaire is being circulated online. Seven point likert items suffer from response style bias. Otherwise, it may choose to go with the nine point scale.
Some of the most commonly used scales are known as the likert scale a 5 or 7 point balanced descriptive scale, named after michigan psychometrician rensis likert. Its a question that uses a 5 or 7point scale, sometimes. In your scale, the options are strictly ascending from a small extent to a large extent. The likert scale is commonly used in survey research. Jun 02, 2017 most studies use the reliability of a likert scale as the metric to measure the optimal number of scale points, where a likert scale is reliable if it gives you the same results when you measure the same unchanged object or event. There is variation in the number of response alternatives used within healthrelated questionnaires. How to use the likert scale in statistical analysis. Lets say it has five items each with your 3point scale scored as 1agree, 0neutral, 1 disagree and well average the items to get the overall scores. Vigderhous 1977 opine that the assumptions regarding the measurement level of. Wed favour a simpler 5 point scale as the 7 point scale can make it more difficult and time consuming to answer, with arguably no benefit to data quality. Likert scales typically range from 2 to 10 with 3 or 5 being the most common.
Data from a survey using a likert scale may seem easy. To interpret a 4 point scale, assign each response a point value, from 1 to 4, based on the number of responses. Participants in the 5point scale condition were more likely than those presented with the 7point scale to interpolate, i. Participants in a facetoface omnibus survey were shown either a five point with midpoint or four. On the other hand, 7point likert scales are equipped to record more accurately, but still manage to remain compact. Abstract the likert scale is commonly used in survey research using. Since the creation of the rating scale, there has always been disagreement on whether closedended survey questions should have a neutral category or should force respondents to take a side.
Many graduatelevel research projects involve distributing surveys and analyzing the results that come in. Cpsc 681 topic report dane bertram likert scales 1 page likert scale \lickurt\, n. A likert type scale involves a series of statements that respondents may choose from in order to rate their responses to evaluative questions vogt, 1999. Jan 16, 2020 dear kostoulas, i am trying to find factors which are most effective, least effective and not effective for a particular event to happen from the responses gathered through questionnaire based on likert scale ordinal data where questionnaire is composed of items with a 5 point scale, ranging from 1strongly disagree to 5strongly agree. The two sides to satisfaction such as satisfied and dissatisfied will be interlinked with other answer options without a neutral answer option. Nature of the likert scale attitude is a complex thing. How can i explain why i am using five likert scale for my. The original instrument with its 5point likert items was presented, as well as an alternate version modified with 7point likert items. A typical scale could be strongly agree, unsureundecided, disagree, strongly disagree. Ron garland this study examined the effect on survey results of having no neutral or midpoint on a likert scale. Abstract the likert scale is commonly used in survey research using primary and secondary data to measure the respondent. At some point, the number of possible values becomes so high that it is essentially continuous. Robert warmbrod1 abstract fortynine percent of the 706 articles published in the journal of agricultural education from 1995 to 2012 reported quantitative research with at least one variable measured by a likert type scale.
A psychometric evaluation of 4 point and 6 point likert type scales in relation to reliability and validity lei chang university of central florida reliability and validity of 4 point and 6 point scales were assessed using a new modelbased approach to fit empirical data. A fivepoint likert scale ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree was employed as it has been most recommended by the researchers that it would reduce the frustration level of patient. A psychometric response scale primarily used in questionnaires to obtain participants preferences or degree of agreement with a statement or set of statements. Almost everyone would recognise this type of survey. The likert scale analysis using parametric based structural. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. A randomised comparison of a four and a fivepoint scale. Where should na be placed and how should it be coded on a.
By creating a scale with an odd number of categories, a researcher will be leaving a mid point, which acts as a neutral option for respondents to select. Colman b, a department of general practice and primary health care, university of leicester, university road, leicester le1 7rh, uk. Three good reasons not to use five and seven point likert items. Likert scale examples for surveys iowa state university. A survey scale represents a set of answer optionseither numeric or verbalthat cover a range of opinions on a topic. You are using the most standradised tool, or a scale, likert scale. A psychometric evaluation of 4point and 6point likert. How to quantify likert scale type data methodspace.
This study compared a fourand a fivepoint scale version of the norwegian function assessment scale nfas by evaluating data quality, internal consistency and validity. A likert scale is commonly used to measure attitudes, knowledge, perceptions, values, and behavioral changes. What statistical tests should be used on 5point likert scale. Three good reasons not to use five and seven point likert. Different measurement models were fit by confirmatory factor analyses of a. Likert scale items are created by calculating a composite score sum or mean from four or more type likerttype items. What statistical tests should be used on 5point likert scale questions. There is even less cer tainty about the equidistance of intenals when the scale is labelled see figure 1. Having seven points tends to be a good balance between having enough points of discrimination without.
Im still not sure, so i thought id have better luck here. Various kinds of rating scales have been developed to measure attitudes directly i. If it sees more sparseness in the nine point scale, then it may opt for the seven point scale. Likert scale items are created by calculating a composite score sum or mean from four or more type likert type items. Jul, 2010 if, on the other hand, the association notices concentration on one end of the scale for all three versions, then it can look at the seven and the nine point tests. A psychometric evaluation of 4point and 6point likerttype scales in relation to reliability and validity lei chang university of central florida reliability and validity of 4point and 6point scales were assessed using a new modelbased approach to fit empirical data.
A likert type scale involves a series of statements that survey respondents may choose from, in order to rate their responses to evaluative questions. Mead point in a distribution ordinal scale on no effect of outliers mode. A 5item likert scale was created from this instrument by first adding a 3 neutralundecided option and also by adding five. Likert scale data, on the other hand, are analyzed at the interval measurement scale. Your zero is at the far left of the scale, not in the middle. How do i go about making this a predefined so that i can just select instead of typing each time.