Morgan from the Portland State University’s Sociology Department summed up the interval nature of the scale well. This means Likert scales “approach” the definition of interval data. That said, when a survey has enough questions, many researchers use the data to come up with reliable averages. However, it’s not interval data because we don’t know exactly what constitutes a 4 versus a 3 in someone’s mind. For example, we know that a 4 is better than a 3.

Here’s what we think: Likert survey scales provide ordinal data, as the results naturally represent someone’s preferences. However, many believe this scale also provides interval data ( data which is measured along a scale, with each point placed at equal distances from one another). Hint: The correct answer is 5…at least that’s what our customers are saying! Are Likert Scales Ordinal or Interval?Īlmost everyone agrees that the Likert rating scale provides ordinal data (data which is measured along a scale, but the distances between each point is unknown). SurveyLegend provides quality support to its customers: But, just so we’re on the same page, here’s a typical question using 5 points : Later on, you’ll see many examples of Likert survey scales.

It’s very common for companies to use Likert scales when they want to evaluate a customer’s level of satisfaction during a recent experience. However, there can be as few as two responses (with no neutral response) or as many as ten. The scale generally consists of five or seven balanced responses that people can choose from, with a neutral midpoint. In a Likert scale, a person selects one option among several that reflects how much they agree with a statement. As a result, they’re often used for customer satisfaction surveys or a marketing research surveys. Today, Likert-type scales are considered some of the best survey tools for researching popular opinions. Likert devised the psychometric approach in 1932 for conducting social and educational research. The Likert scale is named after American social scientist Rensis Likert.

So what is a Likert scale? How do you use one?Ĭreate your Likert-based survey, form, or poll now! Likert Scale Definition: History and Usage But what about when you want to get the public’s opinion on something? Whether you’re a business surveying customers or a market researcher, a popular way to survey people is using a Likert scale. Two thumbs up! Five stars! There are many types of scales designed to let the public know the quality of something.

Creating a likert scale in eprime