Likert scale
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A Likert scale (pronounced 'lick-ert') is an often used questionnaire format. It requests respondents to specify their level of agreement to each of a list of statements. It was named after Rensis Likert, who invented the scale in 1932.
Like Thurstone- or Guttman scaling, Likert scaling is a unidimensional scaling method. As in all scaling methods, the first step is to define what to measure. Because this is a unidimensional scaling method, it is assumed that the concept is one-dimensional in nature.
A typical question using a five-point Likert scale might make a statement, then ask the respondents to indicate whether they:
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
The results show an ordinal level of preference; numbers have an inherent order or sequence but do not correspond to a precise mathematical value.