Methods for Social Researchers in Developing Countries




Introduction

Scales

Likert Scales

Bogardus
Social
Distance
Scales

Guttman
Scales

Indices

Additional Considerations

Typologies

Measurement
Error

Aids
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Box 7.2. Some guidelines for writing Likert items

  • Write the statements as simply as possible.
  • Use language and words that your respondents will understand.
  • Express the statements in everyday language of the respondents.
  • Reverse the direction of questions, with some expressing a positive or favorable view and others a negative or unfavorable opinion.
  • Include statements expressing a range of opinions from relatively mild to strong positive and negative views.
  • Mix up statements with positive and negative views in any list of statements.

Also, you will need to include statements that show positive as well negative views. This is done to minimize errors arising from the tendency of respondents to answer a set of items in pretty much the same way. If all the statements are stated in a positive fashion, like items 1, 4, and 5 in Box 7.3, showing only positive views with regard to women working outside the home, many respondents tend to give the same response after a few items. To avoid this tendency, known as response set, positive and negative items are mixed up in any list of statements, forcing respondents to think about their responses to each item. The best way to see how this is done is to follow through an illustration.

Illustration of Likert scale construction

To illustrate the process so far, let's say we wanted to create a scale for measuring attitudes toward employment of married women outside the home. After reviewing a number of items, we selected those items listed in Box 7.3

Box 7.3. Initial items for measuring attitudes toward employment of wives outside the home

1. A working wife feels useful.
                       X
          (4)SA    (3)A    (2)Un    (1)D    (0)SD                                                    3

3. An employed wife cannot bring children up   properly.
                                                         X
            (0)SA   (1)A     (2) Un   (3)D   (4) SD                                                   4

4. Today, wives have to work to help support   the family
               .          X
           (4)SA    (3)A      (2) Un     (1)D    (0)SD                                               3

5. Children can be assured of love and guidance even if the mother is employed
            X
           (4)SA    (3)A      (2)Un      (1)D    (0)SD                                               4

6. Taking care of the home and children is all a      wife needs to feel important.
                                                   X
           (0)SA    (1)A      (2)Un      (3)D     (4)SD                                              3

7. It is better if the husband works and the wife stays home.
                                                  X
           (0)SA    (1)A      (2)Un      (3)D     (4)SD                                               3

Tentative score                                                                                             23

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