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Also known as: Likert-type Scale
Ordered response rating scale used in questionnaires to measure attitudes, agreement, or frequency across consistent options.
DESCRIPTION
A Likert scale captures attitudes or opinions by asking respondents to select from ordered categories (e.g., strongly disagree to strongly agree). It produces ordinal data that are often treated as interval under assumptions. Common variants include 5‑point and 7‑point formats, sometimes with a neutral midpoint. Proper design includes balanced options and clear labels to reduce bias. Reliability is assessed with measures such as Cronbach’s alpha. Analysis ranges from medians and bar charts to item response theory for advanced psychometrics.
ALTERNATIVE DEFINITIONS
APA Dictionary of Psychology
Likert scale: a type of rating scale used to measure attitudes or opinions with a range of levels from strongly agree to strongly disagree.
Highlights attitude measurement and commonly used agree–disagree anchors.
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Likert scale, rating system used to measure attitudes or opinions by presenting a series of statements and a set of responses that range from one extreme to another.
Emphasizes presentation of statements with ordered response options.
RELATED TERMS
Ordinal Variable Rating Scale Survey Design Questionnaire Semantic Differential Psychometrics Cronbach’s Alpha Response Bias Measurement Error
COMPETING TERMS
Semantic Differential Scale Net Promoter Score
KNOWLEDGE AREAS
Data Science Data Visualization Domain & Business Context
TARGET AUDIENCE
Data Analyst Information Analyst Data Scientist BI Specialist
EXTERNAL SOURCES
- Wikipedia - Likert scale
- Pew Research Center - Best practices for questionnaire design
- Research-Methodology - Explanation and examples of Likert scales
TOP QUESTIONS
When should a Likert Scale be used?
Use it to measure attitudes, agreement, or frequency with consistent ordered options. It’s ideal for capturing subjective perceptions across multiple items in surveys.
Category: Usage
Is Likert Scale data ordinal or interval?
Technically ordinal, but often treated as interval under assumptions of equal spacing. If uncertain, use nonparametric statistics or visualize distributions.
Category: Misunderstanding
How many points should a Likert Scale have?
Five or seven points are common. Seven may capture nuance, while five reduces respondent burden. Consistency across items is more important than the exact count.
Category: Design
Should a Likert Scale include a neutral option?
Include it if neutrality is meaningful. Excluding it can force direction, potentially reducing validity but sometimes useful to elicit stance.
Category: Opinion
How do you analyze Likert Scale responses?
Summarize with medians or distributions; visualize with stacked bar charts. For scales, assess reliability (e.g., Cronbach’s alpha) and consider factor analysis.
Category: Analysis
What biases affect Likert Scale responses?
Acquiescence bias, central tendency, and social desirability distort results. Balanced wording and clear labels help mitigate these.
Category: Risk
What is a Likert item vs. Likert Scale?
A Likert item is a single question with ordered options; a Likert scale aggregates multiple items measuring a construct.
Category: Basics
Can Likert Scales compare groups reliably?
Yes, with consistent instruments and sufficient sample size. Use appropriate tests (e.g., Mann–Whitney) when interval assumptions are doubtful.
Category: Comparison
What are alternatives to Likert Scales?
Semantic differential, visual analog scales, and forced-choice formats are alternatives, each with trade-offs in sensitivity and respondent effort.
Category: Alternatives