Glossaries
Likert Scale
What is a Likert Scale?
A Likert Scale is a rating system used in surveys and questionnaires to measure people's attitudes, opinions, or perceptions on a spectrum, typically ranging from strong agreement to strong disagreement.
Synonyms: Rating scale, Agreement scale, Attitude scale, Opinion scale
How Likert Scales are Used in User Research
Likert Scales are widely used in user research to gather quantitative data about users' attitudes, preferences, and experiences. Researchers often employ these scales in surveys, questionnaires, and feedback forms to measure the intensity of respondents' feelings towards a particular statement or question.
Examples of Likert Scale Questions
Typical Likert Scale questions might look like this:
-
"The product is easy to use."
- Strongly Disagree
- Disagree
- Neutral
- Agree
- Strongly Agree
-
"How satisfied are you with our customer service?"
- Very Dissatisfied
- Dissatisfied
- Neutral
- Satisfied
- Very Satisfied
Why Likert Scales are Important in User Research
Likert Scales provide several benefits in user research:
- Quantifiable Data: They allow researchers to convert subjective opinions into numerical data for analysis.
- Easy to Understand: Participants find them intuitive and straightforward to complete.
- Versatility: They can be used to measure a wide range of attitudes and opinions.
- Reliability: When properly designed, Likert Scales can provide reliable and consistent results.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the typical range of a Likert Scale?: Most Likert Scales use 5 or 7 points, but they can range from 3 to 11 points.
- Can Likert Scale data be analyzed statistically?: Yes, Likert Scale data can be analyzed using various statistical methods, including mean, median, and mode calculations.
- Are there any limitations to using Likert Scales?: Yes, limitations include central tendency bias (respondents avoiding extreme responses) and acquiescence bias (tendency to agree with statements).