Re: A 4 point Likert scale

Posted by Art Kendall on Oct 17, 2011; 7:02pm
URL: http://spssx-discussion.165.s1.nabble.com/A-4-point-Likert-scale-tp4910676p4911177.html

A six point would eliminate the middle point.

This is not a construct.

You must be measuring _something_ that the respondent agrees with. Your stimulus is an operationalization of some idea (aka, construct).

If there is a well-established scale that unfortunately used a 4 point response scale, then you are stuck with it. How was the reliability of the previous use(s)?


If it is still developmental, you should consider using a longer response scale?

What is so bad about a midpoint what are you measuring?

Art Kendall
Social Research Consultants


On 10/17/2011 2:26 PM, Mohamed Fawzy Afify wrote:

Thank you for your help.

The point is, I do not want to have a neutral position. This is not a construct.

so do you suggest a 6 point scale , giving more stretch and eliminating the neutral status?

However, I do have a construct [5 items] that was originally measured on a 4 point scale and I intend to use it.

Regards

Mohamed

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From: Art Kendall [hidden email]
To: Mohamed [hidden email]
Cc: [hidden email]
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2011 8:19 PM
Subject: Re: [SPSSX-L] A 4 point Likert scale

Why do you want to use only a 4 point Likert scale?
_The more you restrict the variance of a variable the more you restrict its possible covariance._
As a rule of thumb you want items to approximate a continuous construct as much as possible given who your respondents are.

An actual Likert item has 5 points SD D ? A SA.  Do you have a Disagree to Agree construct for your response scale?

If your scale has many items, the total (mean) score might not be too restricted.
If you do not have scales, but are measuring a construct with a single variable the restriction of variance and therefore on covariance is even more problematical.

In short, a 4 point response scale is usually inadvisable. Why coarsen your measurement any more than is really necessary?


Art Kendall
Social Research Consultants

On 10/17/2011 1:13 PM, Mohamed wrote:

Hi


I intend to use a 4 point Likert scale format in my survey.

I want to know if this puts limitations on the type of statistical analysis
tests conducted?

Regards

Mohamed


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