How to Analyze Likert and Other Rating Scale Data

We, humans, are busybodies who like to get everything done that we set out to do each day. It all comes down to how you go about accomplishing your goals.

Conducting surveys is a part of the work we do. The results of the survey are crucial to the development of any company. Entrepreneurs will never stop trying to influence the public's opinion of their products. Because one is gathering the opinions of others, survey data analysis is crucial.

Statistical research now relies heavily on surveys. How we go about analyzing such data is the main question. This article will teach you how to analyze data collected using the Likert Scale. You will finish the day with a smile after gaining new knowledge.

What is A Likert Scale?

A Likert Scale is a psychometric scale with two opposing poles. In conclusion, the Likert Scale can be used to gauge the views of others. Their opinions and reactions to a service or item are helpful.

In this instance, you will analyze Likert scale data indicating the degree to which others agree or disagree with an issue. The opinions of your clientele are essential to you as a business owner. And to do that, you'll need to understand how to decipher the results of a Likert Scale survey.

Television programs can gain insight into their viewers' emotions through this study. Data collection from interviewees is the most challenging element of this project.

The Likert Scale was designed with the marketer, psychologist, and sociologist in mind. Because of the nature of your work, you must contact various people.

You can get a variety of perspectives by talking to individuals. It's a standard procedure for deciphering responses on a Likert scale. Here's a fun fact about using the Likert Scale in your research.

The graphic design implies that all beliefs, attitudes, and emotions are linear. Let's break into why this is so. Generally, there is just one route from an accord to a dispute. Consequently, let's examine how to analyze Likert Scale data.

How to Analyze Likert Scale Data?

Most surveys make use of Likert scales to rate respondents' opinions. The Likert Scale is used in surveys to ask respondents to identify their level of agreement on a scale from 'strongly agree' to 'strongly disagree'. The data in the spreadsheet are two groups' responses on a 5-point Likert scale.

Many agree that Likert data are significant for survey questions but have differing views on analyzing them. The overarching question is whether a parametric or nonparametric test is better suited for analyzing Likert data.

Parametric tests are more common and, therefore, easier to use. The range, ordinality, and discreteness of Likert data are drawbacks. Most parametric tests fail because of these features. Here are some of the main points of contention when discussing which test is best for use with Likert data:

● The data's continuous, customarily distributed nature is taken for granted in parametric testing. Parametric tests, however, can be used with non-normal data if the sample size is big enough. Parametric tests include the two-sample t-test.

● With ordinal data, nonparametric tests are reliable since they do not make the typical distribution assumption. Yet, there is apprehension that nonparametric tests are less likely to discover a natural effect. Nonparametric tests include the popular Mann-Whitney U-test.

There is little difference between the two statistical tests for analyzing Likert data. Comparing two groups' 5-point Likert scale data, the 2-sample t-test and the Mann-Whitney U-test have approximately identical type I error rates and power.

What Are The Pros and Cons of Using a 5-Point Likert Scale?

Pros

Using the 5-Point Likert Scale in research and survey analysis has several advantages.

● That is comparatively simpler for people to comprehend.

The 5-point Scale is easy to use. The impartial perspective is readily identifiable. The opposing extremes are likewise easily categorized as either entirely favourable or unfavourable reviews.

● The 5-point Scale is appropriate for large-scale research.

With fewer options, respondents can more readily provide sincere and pertinent feedback. In addition, the 5-point Scale helps sample the opinions of a big audience. This is because there are fewer irrelevant options to review and comprehend.

● The five-point Scale produces more uniform data distributions on average.

This means that with a 5-point scale, you may assess the genuine feelings of your responders. This enables you to collect the necessary data and ultimately reach actionable conclusions.

Cons

Let's examine some drawbacks of adopting the 5-point Likert Scale.

● Occasionally, more than the 5-point Scale is required for gauging all perspectives on a topic.

Occasionally, the 5-point Scale is required for gauging all opinions regarding a particular problem. To obtain correct data, the responders may need additional means of expression.

In certain circumstances, the 5-point Scale may need to be more relaxed for respondents. This consequently prompts individuals to make irrational or unreasonable decisions.

● The outcomes of a five-point scale may not be objective.

The data collected using a 5-point scale may not adequately convey the objective thoughts of individuals. It may not also achieve the research or survey's objective.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Likert scale example?

Typically, the Likert Scale contains five, seven, or nine points, with five and seven points being the most common. Strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, and strongly disagree are some of the most often used options. The Likert scale chart is an example of displaying survey results based on user comments.

When should a Likert scale be used?

Likert scales can be helpful for gauging items related to attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours. Questioning respondents on their agreement or disagreement with a given statement or problem is a common way to gauge their opinions. A typical scale may read "Strongly disagree, Disagree, Neutral, Agree, Strongly agree."

How do you interpret the Likert Scale?

Statements are what make up the Likert Scale. Just indicating a level of agreement or disagreement with a given statement is all that is required of respondents. Each possible response is given a numerical value and analyzed together. As survey responses are tabulated, researchers can use a Likert Scale Chart to make sense of the Likert Scale data.

Conclusion

Data analysis is often more challenging than astrophysics. It is essential to obtain a meaningful dataset before diving into data analysis. Conditions and people's emotions might make this challenging.

A Likert scale survey can gauge people's thoughts on a topic. Unfortunately, some individuals may need to be nicer to provide an objective assessment. Some respondents may think so much at once that they breeze through your survey.

Nonetheless, many researchers find safety on a 5-point scale. It quickly gets to the point without dragging on or overloading your readers.