Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat a Likert Scale Looks LikeCreating Items on a Likert ScaleAdvantagesDisadvantages

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What a Likert Scale Looks Like

Creating Items on a Likert Scale

Advantages

Disadvantages

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On a Likert scale, respondents are asked to rate the level to which they agree with a statement. Such scales are often used to assesspersonality,attitudes, and behaviors.

At a GlanceWhile you might not have known what they were called, you’ve probably encountered many different Likert scales. Simply put, a Likert scale is a type of assessment item that asks you to rate your agreement with a statement (often from “Strongly Agree” to “Strongly Disagree.") Such scales can be a great way to get a nuanced look at how people feel about a particular topic, which is why you’ll often see this type of item on political surveys and psychological questionnaires.

At a Glance

While you might not have known what they were called, you’ve probably encountered many different Likert scales. Simply put, a Likert scale is a type of assessment item that asks you to rate your agreement with a statement (often from “Strongly Agree” to “Strongly Disagree.") Such scales can be a great way to get a nuanced look at how people feel about a particular topic, which is why you’ll often see this type of item on political surveys and psychological questionnaires.

On asurveyor questionnaire, a typical Likert item usually takes the following format:

It is important to note that the individual questions that take this format are known as Likert items, while the Likert scale is the format of these items.

Other Items on a Likert Scale

In addition to looking at how much respondents agree with a statement, Likert items may also focus on likelihood, frequency, or importance. In such cases, survey takers would be asked to identify:

A Note on PronunciationIf you’ve ever taken a psychology course, you’ve probably heard the term pronounced “lie-kurt.” Since the term is named after Rensis Likert, the correct pronunciation should be “lick-urt.”

A Note on Pronunciation

If you’ve ever taken a psychology course, you’ve probably heard the term pronounced “lie-kurt.” Since the term is named after Rensis Likert, the correct pronunciation should be “lick-urt.”

In some cases, experts who are very knowledgeable about the subject matter might develop items on their own. Oftentimes, it is helpful to have a group of experts help brainstorm different ideas to include on a scale.

After weeding out the questions that have been deemed irrelevant or not relevant enough to include, the Likert scale is then ready to be administered.

Experts suggest that when creating Likert scale items, survey creators should pay careful attention to wording and clearly define target constructs.

Some researchers have questioned whether having an even or odd number of response options might influence the usefulness of such data. Some research has found that having five options increases psychometric precision but found no advantages to having six or more response options.

Advantages of a Likert Scale

Because Likert items are not simply yes or no questions, researchers are able to look at the degree to which people agree or disagree with a statement.

Research suggests that Likert scales are a valuable and convenient way for psychologists to measure characteristics that cannot be readily observed.

Likert scales are often used in political polling in order to obtain a more nuanced look at how people feel about particular issues or certain candidates.

Disadvantages of a Likert Scale

People may not be entirely honest or forthright in their answers or may even answer items in ways that make themselves appear better than they are. This effect can be particularly pronounced when looking at behaviors that are viewed as socially unacceptable.

What This Means For YouThe next time you fill out a questionnaire or survey, notice if they use Likert scales to evaluate your feelings about a subject. Such surveys are common in doctor’s offices to help assess your symptoms and their severity. They are also often used in political or consumer polls to judge your feelings about a particular issue, candidate, or product.

What This Means For You

The next time you fill out a questionnaire or survey, notice if they use Likert scales to evaluate your feelings about a subject. Such surveys are common in doctor’s offices to help assess your symptoms and their severity. They are also often used in political or consumer polls to judge your feelings about a particular issue, candidate, or product.

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Joshi A, Kale S, Chandel S, Pal DK.Likert scale: Explored and explained.British Journal of Applied Science & Technology.2015;7(4):396-403. doi:10.9734/BJAST/2015/14975East Carolina University Psychology Department.How do you pronounce “Likert?” What is a Likert scale?Clark LA, Watson D.Constructing validity: New developments in creating objective measuring instruments.Psychol Assess. 2019;31(12):1412-1427. doi:10.1037/pas0000626Simms LJ, Zelazny K, Williams TF, Bernstein L.Does the number of response options matter? Psychometric perspectives using personality questionnaire data.Psychol Assess. 2019;31(4):557-566. doi:10.1037/pas0000648Jebb AT, Ng V, Tay L.A review of key Likert scale development advances: 1995-2019.Front Psychol. 2021;12:637547. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.637547Sullman MJM, Taylor JE.Social desirability and self-reported driving behaviours: Should we be worried?Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behavior.2010;13(3):215-221. doi:10.1016/j.trf.2010.04.004Additional ReadingLikert R.A technique for the measurement of attitudes.Archives of Psychology.1932;22(140):1–55.

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Joshi A, Kale S, Chandel S, Pal DK.Likert scale: Explored and explained.British Journal of Applied Science & Technology.2015;7(4):396-403. doi:10.9734/BJAST/2015/14975East Carolina University Psychology Department.How do you pronounce “Likert?” What is a Likert scale?Clark LA, Watson D.Constructing validity: New developments in creating objective measuring instruments.Psychol Assess. 2019;31(12):1412-1427. doi:10.1037/pas0000626Simms LJ, Zelazny K, Williams TF, Bernstein L.Does the number of response options matter? Psychometric perspectives using personality questionnaire data.Psychol Assess. 2019;31(4):557-566. doi:10.1037/pas0000648Jebb AT, Ng V, Tay L.A review of key Likert scale development advances: 1995-2019.Front Psychol. 2021;12:637547. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.637547Sullman MJM, Taylor JE.Social desirability and self-reported driving behaviours: Should we be worried?Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behavior.2010;13(3):215-221. doi:10.1016/j.trf.2010.04.004Additional ReadingLikert R.A technique for the measurement of attitudes.Archives of Psychology.1932;22(140):1–55.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Joshi A, Kale S, Chandel S, Pal DK.Likert scale: Explored and explained.British Journal of Applied Science & Technology.2015;7(4):396-403. doi:10.9734/BJAST/2015/14975East Carolina University Psychology Department.How do you pronounce “Likert?” What is a Likert scale?Clark LA, Watson D.Constructing validity: New developments in creating objective measuring instruments.Psychol Assess. 2019;31(12):1412-1427. doi:10.1037/pas0000626Simms LJ, Zelazny K, Williams TF, Bernstein L.Does the number of response options matter? Psychometric perspectives using personality questionnaire data.Psychol Assess. 2019;31(4):557-566. doi:10.1037/pas0000648Jebb AT, Ng V, Tay L.A review of key Likert scale development advances: 1995-2019.Front Psychol. 2021;12:637547. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.637547Sullman MJM, Taylor JE.Social desirability and self-reported driving behaviours: Should we be worried?Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behavior.2010;13(3):215-221. doi:10.1016/j.trf.2010.04.004

Joshi A, Kale S, Chandel S, Pal DK.Likert scale: Explored and explained.British Journal of Applied Science & Technology.2015;7(4):396-403. doi:10.9734/BJAST/2015/14975

East Carolina University Psychology Department.How do you pronounce “Likert?” What is a Likert scale?

Clark LA, Watson D.Constructing validity: New developments in creating objective measuring instruments.Psychol Assess. 2019;31(12):1412-1427. doi:10.1037/pas0000626

Simms LJ, Zelazny K, Williams TF, Bernstein L.Does the number of response options matter? Psychometric perspectives using personality questionnaire data.Psychol Assess. 2019;31(4):557-566. doi:10.1037/pas0000648

Jebb AT, Ng V, Tay L.A review of key Likert scale development advances: 1995-2019.Front Psychol. 2021;12:637547. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.637547

Sullman MJM, Taylor JE.Social desirability and self-reported driving behaviours: Should we be worried?Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behavior.2010;13(3):215-221. doi:10.1016/j.trf.2010.04.004

Likert R.A technique for the measurement of attitudes.Archives of Psychology.1932;22(140):1–55.

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