Number of Alternatives per Choice Point and Stability of Likert-Type Scales

Abstract

Due to several previous replications of increased internal consistency reliability associated with increases in the number of alternatives per choice point, alternate forms test-retest reliability of self-ratings on a noncognitive scale was studied. Increased stability reliability associated with increases in the number of alternatives per choice point is discussed in terms of past research, theory and practical concerns. Recently researchers have indicated renewed interest in effects upon psychometric scales due to varying the number of alternatives per choice point (3). Reviews addressing the effect of number of alternatives (options) per choice point (item) on scale reliability have suggested that the effect varies with stimulus conditions (I).* Replications of dependable increases in estimates of internal consistency have been associated with increases in the number of alternatives per choice point with Likert-type item formats under varied conditions (2).2 For a 12-item author-constructed Attitudes Toward Measurement Scale in the Likert-type format with 3, 5, 7, or 9 alternatives, alpha coefficients of .65 (n = 47), .72 (n = 44), .73 (n = 47), and .81 (n = 46), respectively, were ~roduced by the total of 184 graduate students of a measurement course.' For a 37-item author-constructed Attitudes Toward Students' Rights Scale with 3, 5, standard 5, 7, or 9 alternatives in the Likert-type format, alpha coefficients of .65 (n = 113), .72 ( n = 113), .74 ( n = 113), .78 (n= 113), and .69 (n = 113) were produced.2 For the "standard 5"format in this latter study all alternatives were verbally anchored; otherwise for both studies, only end-and mid-points were verbally anchored.In another study, the effect under consideration was studied with five forms of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability scale having either 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 alternatives per choice point. In that study, it was concluded that, for the even-numbered response format (with no midpoint) alpha coefficients increased with the number of alternatives, from 2 through 8, replicating the previous studies involving odd numbers of alternatives (4). Alternate forms with time interval estimates of reliability were studied in the present experiment to replicate Oaster's original finding that, up to some practical point, increases in the number of alternatives per choice point increase scale reliability.Reliability of self-ratings on 10 forms of the 16-item Texas Social Behavior Inventory (Forms A and B) with either 3, 5, standard 5, 7, or 9 alternatives per choice point was studied for 255 undergraduate students.' Participants were requested from classes for which instructors agreed to participate including 3 business, 3 education, 2 English, 4 psychology, 2 sociology classes, and 1 religion class in a private, church-related liberal arts college in the Midwest. The five forms were randomly distributed within classes, each with a 10-option answer sheet attached which was also unobtrusively coded for form number in column 60 with liquid paper. Those who complete...

Diseño del formato de escalas tipo Likert: un estado de la cuestión

“…Con relación al número de alternativas existe una línea de trabajo centrada en analizar cómo el número de alternativas de respuesta afecta a las propiedades psicométricas de las escalas tipo Likert (Cox, 1980;Bishop, 1987;Dawes, 2008;Lozano, García-Cueto y Muñiz, 2008;Oaster, 1989). En 1933, Pemberton fue uno de los primeros investigadores en esta línea.…”

Quick, Simple and Reliable: Forced Binary Survey Questions

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Pesquisa Científica No Curso De Ciências Contábeis: Limites E Contribuições Ao Aluno Na Elaboração Do Trabalho De Conclusão De Curso

“…Para avaliação dos itens disponibilizados nas etapas um, dois e três utilizou-se a escala Likert de 7 pontos, abrangendo o grau de concordância ou discordância dos respondentes para cada item apresentado. Optou-se pela escala Likert de 7 pontos para dar maior liberdade ao respondente e poder captar com maior exatidão o nível de sensibilidade em relação concordância ou não a respeito das assertivas apresentadas, chegando ao nível máximo de confiabilidade por utilização dessa medida com base no estudo de Oaster (1989).…”