SUMMATED (LIKERT) SCALE
To measure the social attitude likert type scale is used. It
uses only the definitely favourable and unfavourable statements. It excludes
intermediate opinions. It consists of a series of statements to which the
respondent is to react the respondent indicates the degree of agreement or
disagreement. Each response is given a numerical score and the total score of a
respondent is found out by summing up his different scores for different
purposes. This total score indicate his position on the continuum.
The likert scale uses several degree of agreement or
disagreement (eg. Strongly approve, approve, undecided, disapprove, strongly
disapprove). These five points will constitute the scale. Each point of the
scale carries a score “strongly approve” is given the highest score (5 or + 2)
and ‘Strongly disapprove is given the least score (1 or – 2)
THE METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION OF A LIKERT TYPE
SCALE
-
The researcher gathers a large numbers of
statements which clearly indicate favourable or unfavourable attitude towards
the issue in question.
-
The questionnaires consisting of the above
five points with respect to a statement are administered to the respondents who
indicate their responses.
-
The responses will imply various scores. The
scores are consistently arranged either from the highest to the lowest, or from
the lowest to the highest.
-
By adding up the different scores of an
individual, his total score is calculated.
-
The researches should identify the items,
which have a high discriminatory power. The responses are interpreted to
determine which of the statements discriminate very clearly between high scores
and low scores on the total scale. It has to be ensured that the questionnaires
is consistent. To achieve this the items will low discriminatory powers or
those having no significant correlation with the total score are eliminated.
ADVANTAGES :
-
The method of construction of likert type
scale is less cumbersome.
-
It supplies more precise and definite
responses towards an issue.
-
The likert scale permits the revelation of
several degrees of agreement or disagreement.
-
In a likert type scale any item or statement
empirically consistent with the statement may be includes.
DISADVANTAGES :
-
The judgement on the basis of total score,
which is estimated by calculating the mean or median, is not scientific. The
total score value may be the score in many cases, but the attitudes may be
different towards on issue.
-
The scores on the liker type scale may be
helpful for making an ordering of the people. Such or ordering will not have
any scientific and objective basis.
-
There is no objective basis for expressing
different degrees of agreement or disagreement.
No comments:
Post a Comment