Question 1

One of the advantages of a Likert scale is that:
A)it is one of the quickest scales to administer.
B)the data are considered to be ordinal level, permitting the use of more powerful statistical procedures.
C)the data are considered to be interval level, permitting the use of the most powerful statistical procedures.
D)the single score based on the Likert scale is not a summary of responses to numerous items.

Accepted Answer

The data from a Likert scale are considered to be ordinal level, which means that the data can be ranked in order, but the differences between the ranks are not necessarily equal. This permits the use of more powerful statistical procedures than would be possible if the data were only nominal level.

Question 2

Each item in a Likert scale can be considered to be:
A)a nominal measure.
B)an ordinal measure.
C)an interval measure.
D)a ratio measure.

Accepted Answer

Likert scale items are considered ordinal measures because they represent ordered categories (e.g., strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, strongly disagree) without a defined interval between each category.

Question 3

In selecting items for scales, one would want to make sure that:
A)no items are used until they have passed the test of construct validity.
B)extreme positions on the variable are left off so that regression toward the mean is avoided.
C)the scale achieves multi dimensionality.
D)the items cover the actual range of variation on the variable.

Accepted Answer

The items should cover the actual range of variation on the variable to ensure that the scale accurately reflects the construct being measured.

Question 4

A Likert scale can also be referred to as a:
A)Guttman scale.
B)multidimensional scale.
C)summated rating scale.
D)rapid assessment instrument.

Accepted Answer

A Likert scale is often referred to as a summated rating scale because it involves summing the scores of multiple items to produce a total score that represents a particular trait or attitude.

Question 5

In assessing items for a Likert scale, a negative discriminatory power score on an item means that:
A)high scorers on the overall scale scored lower on this item than did the low scorers on the overall scale.
B)people in the upper and lower quartiles scored very differently on this item.
C)there is a negative relationship between how people score on this item and on the overall scale.
D)the item is a good candidate for inclusion in the final scale.

Accepted Answer

A negative discriminatory power score indicates that individuals who score high on the overall scale tend to score lower on this particular item compared to individuals who score low on the overall scale, suggesting a reverse relationship.

Question 6

The assumptions of which of the following scaling techniques can enable the researcher to assume that the resulting data are at the interval level of measurement
A)Likert scaling
B)Guttman scaling
C)Thurstone scaling
D)multivariate scaling

Accepted Answer

Thurstone scaling is designed to produce interval-level data by assuming equal intervals between points on the scale, allowing for more precise measurement of attitudes or opinions.

Question 7

A scale in which there is a series of statements, each followed by five ordered response alternatives, is called:
A)a Likert scale.
B)a Thurstone scale.
C)a semantic differential.
D)a Guttman scale.

Accepted Answer

A Likert scale is characterized by a series of statements followed by ordered response alternatives, typically ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree, allowing respondents to express their level of agreement.

Question 8

In Likert scales, a discriminatory power score for each item:
A)indicates the degree to which people's responses to an item range over the five response alternatives.
B)is a method of assessing the reliability of each item.
C)indicates the degree to which each item discriminates between high scorers and low scorers on the overall scale.
D)indicates how highly that item correlates with people's overall scale score.

Accepted Answer

The discriminatory power score of an item in a Likert scale measures how well the item differentiates between individuals who score high and those who score low on the overall scale.

Question 9

One of the advantages of using existing items or scales in research rather than developing new ones is:
A)existing scales usually achieve a higher level of measurement.
B)existing scales are more likely to be unidimensional.
C)existing scales are more likely to confirm research hypotheses.
D)the validity and reliability of existing scales have usually already been established.

Accepted Answer

Existing scales have typically undergone rigorous testing and evaluation, which means their validity (accuracy in measuring what they are supposed to measure) and reliability (consistency of the measurement) have already been established. This saves researchers time and resources in having to validate new scales.

Question 10

In developing a Likert scale, the best items for inclusion are:
A)those with the lowest DP scores.
B)those at the nominal level of measurement.
C)those whose DP score is zero or close to zero.
D)those with the highest DP scores.

Accepted Answer

The best items for inclusion in a Likert scale are those with the highest Discrimination Power (DP) scores, as they are most effective at differentiating between respondents' attitudes or opinions.

Question 11

In assessing items for a Likert scale, a discriminatory power score would be calculated on:
A)the whole preliminary Likert scale.
B)every item of the preliminary Likert scale.
C)only on those items that are used in the final Likert scale.
D)those items that are being moved from a Thurstone to a Likert scale.

Accepted Answer

Discriminatory power score is calculated for every item of the preliminary Likert scale to determine how well each item differentiates among the responses of the participants. This helps in identifying which items are most effective in measuring the variable of interest.

Question 12

A scale whose items measure only one variable is called:
A)a unidimensional scale.
B)a multidimensional scale.
C)a nominal scale.
D)a univariate scale.

Accepted Answer

A unidimensional scale is designed to measure only one attribute or dimension, making it the correct choice for a scale whose items assess a single variable.

Question 13

Which of the following are mentioned as possible sources for items for multiple-item measuring devices
A)the researcher's own imagination
B)people who are considered knowledgeable in an area
C)the people who are the focus of the research
D)all of the answers are mentioned as sources

Accepted Answer

All of the mentioned options (the researcher's own imagination, people who are considered knowledgeable in an area, and the people who are the focus of the research) are valid sources for items in multiple-item measuring devices.

Question 14

Which of the following is one of the disadvantages of Likert scales
A)It offers respondents too wide a range of response alternatives.
B)It gives respondents only a yes-no response alternative.
C)The data produced by Likert scales is only at the nominal level of measurement.
D)It can be hard to interpret a single Likert score because it summarizes so many responses.

Accepted Answer

Likert scales aggregate responses across multiple items, which can make it challenging to interpret what a single score means, as it reflects a summary of various responses rather than a clear, singular sentiment or position.

Question 15

A "scale" would be best defined as:
A)a number of items that are combined to form a composite score on a variable.
B)an item that is both valid and reliable.
C)a measuring device that achieves at least an interval level of measurement.
D)a measuring device that involves asking people questions and recording their answers.

Accepted Answer

A scale is a set of items combined to form a composite score, representing a variable.

Question 16

What should be done if two items in a scale correlate nearly perfectly with one another
A)Keep them both because this shows they are unidimensional.
B)Drop one of them from the scale because they are redundant.
C)Combine the two questions into one so that no information is lost.
D)Drop them both because this shows they have insufficient range and variability.

Accepted Answer

When two items in a scale correlate nearly perfectly with one another, it indicates redundancy. Keeping both can inflate reliability artificially and does not add unique value to the scale. Dropping one helps in refining the scale and ensuring each item contributes unique information.

Question 17

The upper quartile (Q₃)can be defined as: A)the point in a distribution above which the highest 25 percent of the scores in the distribution are located. B)the point in a distribution below which the lowest 25 percent of the scores in the distribution are located. C)the point in a distribution above which the highest 50 percent of the scores in the distribution are located. D)the point in a distribution above which the highest 10 percent of the scores in the distribution are located.

Accepted Answer

The upper quartile, also known as the third quartile, is the value above which the highest 25% of the scores in a distribution are located. It divides the data set into four equal parts, with the upper quartile marking the top 25%.

Question 18

One of the advantages of using scales over single item measures is that:
A)scales are less costly to develop and administer.
B)multiple item measures are generally more valid.
C)multiple item scales enable the researcher to shift the unit of analysis.
D)scales can achieve a lower and more simplified level of measurement.

Accepted Answer

Multiple item measures (scales) are generally considered more valid than single item measures because they can more comprehensively capture the complexity of the concept being measured, reducing measurement error and increasing reliability.

Question 19

A scale in which a person's scale score is determined by summing the number of questions answered in a particular way is called:
A)a summated rating scale.
B)a Thurstone scale.
C)a unidimensional scale.
D)a semantic differential scale.

Accepted Answer

A summated rating scale involves summing the number of questions answered in a particular way to determine a person's score, which is exactly what the question describes.

Question 20

Multiple item measures are more capable of producing data that are than are single item measures.
A)at the nominal level of measurement
B)partially ordered
C)at the interval level of measurement
D)at the organizational unit of analysis

Accepted Answer

Multiple item measures are more capable of producing data that are at the interval level of measurement because they can capture a wider range of variation and nuances in responses, allowing for more precise and detailed analysis.

Quiz 13: Scaling

One of the advantages of a Likert scale is that:

Each item in a Likert scale can be considered to be:

In selecting items for scales, one would want to make sure that:

A Likert scale can also be referred to as a:

In assessing items for a Likert scale, a negative discriminatory power score on an item means that:

The assumptions of which of the following scaling techniques can enable the researcher to assume that the resulting data are at the interval level of measurement

A scale in which there is a series of statements, each followed by five ordered response alternatives, is called:

In Likert scales, a discriminatory power score for each item:

One of the advantages of using existing items or scales in research rather than developing new ones is:

In developing a Likert scale, the best items for inclusion are:

In assessing items for a Likert scale, a discriminatory power score would be calculated on:

A scale whose items measure only one variable is called:

Which of the following are mentioned as possible sources for items for multiple-item measuring devices

Which of the following is one of the disadvantages of Likert scales

A "scale" would be best defined as:

What should be done if two items in a scale correlate nearly perfectly with one another

The upper quartile (Q₃) can be defined as:

One of the advantages of using scales over single item measures is that:

A scale in which a person's scale score is determined by summing the number of questions answered in a particular way is called:

Multiple item measures are more capable of producing data that are than are single item measures.