Likert scales are a type of psychometric scale commonly used in survey research to measure respondents’ attitudes, opinions, and behaviors. Named after American social psychologist Rensis Likert, these scales consist of a series of statements or questions to which respondents are asked to indicate their level of agreement or disagreement.

One example of a Likert scale is a 5-point scale, which presents respondents with five response options ranging from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree.” For instance, a survey may ask participants to rate their level of agreement with the statement “I feel satisfied with my job.” The respondent could then choose from one of the following options:

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Another example of a Likert scale is a 7-point scale, which offers more response options than the 5-point scale. This scale may include additional options such as “very strongly agree” and “very strongly disagree” to allow for more granular responses. For example, a survey may ask participants to rate their level of agreement with the statement “I am confident in my ability to perform well in my job.” The respondent could then choose from one of the following options:

Very strongly agree

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Very strongly disagree

Likert scales are widely used in social and behavioral research because they provide a systematic way of measuring attitudes and opinions. These scales are easy to understand and use, and they allow researchers to quickly and accurately gather data from large numbers of respondents.

However, there are some limitations to Likert scales. One potential issue is response bias, where respondents may not accurately reflect their true attitudes or opinions due to social desirability or other factors. Another potential issue is response inconsistency, where respondents may not consistently use the same response option across different items on the scale.

Despite these limitations, Likert scales remain a popular and effective tool for measuring attitudes and opinions in survey research. By offering a range of response options, these scales allow researchers to gain insight into the nuances of respondents’ attitudes and opinions, providing valuable information for understanding and predicting behavior.