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What Is a Likert Scale? Definition, Types, and Examples 

The Likert scale was devised by the American social scientist Rensis Likert in 1932 as a method for measuring attitudes in his publication “A Technique for the Measurement of Attitudes.”    

We all have come across these scales in various surveys and research studies, where we are asked to indicate our level of agreement or disagreement on a spectrum. Likert scales are used to measure opinions and attitudes in more depth, unlike simple “yes/no” questions.   

Psychometrics is a field in psychology involving the development and validation of assessment instruments such as surveys, scales, and questionnaires. A psychometric scale is a scale commonly used in questionnaires and is the most widely used scale in survey research. The most widely used psychrometric scales are Likert scales , which comprise a number of response points, usually 4 to 9, with accompanying verbal anchors.  

In this article, you will find everything you want to know about this scale, including topics like Likert scale options , advantages and characteristics of Likert scales , and even how to analyze data from a Likert scale .  

Table of Contents

What is a Likert scale?  

Likert scale definition : A Likert scale is a quantitative analysis data collection tool used in surveys and research to assess individuals’ attitudes, opinions, or perceptions. This scale presents a series of statements or questions to respondents. The responses are assigned numerical values, allowing for quantitative analysis of the data. Likert scales are widely employed in fields such as psychology, sociology, and market research to quantify subjective experiences and gather quantitative insights into people’s attitudes or opinions.  

Respondents express their attitudes, opinions, or perceptions on a predetermined scale. For example, the typical Likert scale would range from an option of “strongly agree” to an option of “strongly disagree,” with varying degrees of agreement or disagreement in between. The categories of response may be coded numerically. If so, the numerical values must be defined for that specific study, e.g., 1 = strongly agree, 2 = agree, etc.  

What are Likert scale questions?  

Coming to the application of Likert scale in research , let’s understand what Likert scale questions are. These questions are a type of research instrument that employs the Likert scale to measure people’s opinions, attitudes, or perceptions. The questions present a statement or assertion, and respondents are asked to indicate their level of agreement or disagreement with that statement. Usually, five or seven options are provided for respondents to choose from. An example of such a question is “How satisfied are you with the results of the dental appliance?” And typical response items would be as follows:  

• Very dissatisfied  
• Dissatisfied  
• Satisfied  
• Very satisfied  

As you can see, positive options appear on one side and negative options on the other, and the midpoint is typically neutral. The options on the extreme ends are called response anchors .  

When to use Likert scale questions?  

Likert scale questions are versatile and can be tailored to various topics, making them a popular and effective tool in survey research to measure subjective experiences and opinions. Likert scale questions are appropriate to use in situations where one wants to obtain nuanced responses rather than binary yes/no-type answers. The responses to the former are far more informative and specific.  

It is important to ensure that these scales are used appropriately and that the questions are clear, unbiased, and relevant to the research objectives. Here are some common scenarios when such questions might prove useful in research:  

• Psychological research: Measuring attitudes, personality traits, and emotional states.  
• Social science research: Quantifying attitudes and opinions on societal issues, political views, cultural preferences, etc  
• Healthcare research: Assessing patient satisfaction or treatment efficacy. 
• Market research: Gauging consumer preferences, brand perceptions, and product satisfaction, aiding businesses in making informed decisions.  

Examples of a Likert scale  

Here are some examples of Likert scales used in surveys and questionnaires.   

Likert scale example for agreement  

• Strongly agree  
• Undecided  
• Strongly disagree  

Likert scale example for likelihood  

• Definitely  
• Probably not  
• Definitely not

Likert scale example for frequency  

• Very frequently  
• Frequently  
• Occasionally  
• Very rare  

Likert scale example for importance  

• Very important   
• Important  
• Fairly important  
• Slightly important  
• Not important  

Note that the above examples are all 5-point scales . Keep reading to know more about the types of Likert scales .  

Types of Likert scales  

When using a Likert scale survey , a researcher must consider issues such as categories of response and size and direction of the scale. Broadly, there are two types of Likert scales : odd and even.  

Odd Likert scale  

The odd Likert scale (e.g., 3-point, 5-point, or 7-point scale ) includes a middle point, representing a neutral response. This midpoint can be interpreted differently by different respondents, but it avoids bias.  

Odd Likert scales for satisfaction are as follows:  

3-point scale  

5-point scale  

7-point scale  

• Moderately dissatisfied  
• Slightly dissatisfied  
• Slightly satisfied  
• Moderately satisfied  

Even Likert scale  

Even Likert scale questions have options without a central point. This means that respondents have to choose from the provided answer options (“forced choice” survey scale). Therefore, this scale is used when obtaining insights on a neutral option is not essential or when biased feedback is expected.  

Even Likert scales for satisfaction are as follows:  

2-point scale  

• Dissatisfied   

4-point scale  

• Very dissatisfied

Characteristics of Likert scales  

Here are some essential characteristics of a Likert scale that make it a widely used and effective research tool.  

• Each response option on a Likert scale is accompanied by unambiguous labels reflecting the intended level of agreement or disagreement.  
• Likert scales are ordinal in nature, meaning that the response options have a clear order or ranking. Items have two extreme positions, with gradation between the extremes. The most common type has five items, but the use of more items increases precision and reliability in the results.  
• Responses can be assigned numerical values to facilitate quantitative analysis of the data.   
• These scales are usually symmetrical, with an equal number of positive and negative response options. This helps maintain balance and reduce response bias.  
• These scales are easy to administer in surveys or questionnaires, making them a practical choice for collecting data even on a large scale.  
• These scales can be adapted to various topics and contexts, making them versatile for measuring attitudes and opinions in different fields, such as psychology, sociology, business, and education.  

How to write Likert scale questions?  

• In your Likert scale survey , try to include both questions and statements. This makes the survey engaging.   
• Use a mix of positive and negative framing in your questions to avoid bias in any one direction.  
• Use concise and clear writing. Avoid ambiguity by avoiding complex syntax, double negatives, and jargon. Use proper word choice and do not include different topics within the same question .  

How to write Likert scale responses?

• Decide the number of response options by balancing ease of answering with informativeness. Most researchers include five options.  
• Decide between offering unipolar and bipolar options, i.e., measuring a single attribute (e.g., agreement) versus two attributes (e.g., agreement or disagreement).  
• Ensure that the options provided are mutually exclusive.  
• Avoid confusion by omitting overlapping response items or items with similar meanings.

How to analyze data from a Likert scale ?  

To analyze data derived from the Likert scale , you first need to determine the data type. Likert-type data might be considered ordinal-level or interval-level data. An ordinal scale is one where the order matters but not the difference between values, e.g., socio-economic status, income level, satisfaction rating. Meanwhile, an interval scale is one where the difference between two values is meaningful, e.g., temperature, pH, exam scores. Note that Likert-derived data is typically treated as ordinal under the assumption of unequal distance between responses.  

Next, you need to choose the descriptive statistics and/or inferential statistics to be used to describe and analyze the Likert-derived data. Descriptive statistics can be used to summarize the collected data in a simple numerical form or a graphical form. Alternatively, inferential statistics may be used to test hypotheses, such as correlations between different responses or patterns in the whole dataset.  

Descriptive statistics  

• For ordinal data, the mode is identified for each question to provide an overall assessment of the sample. For visualization, bar charts may be created, displaying the frequency of the choices.
• In the case of interval data, scores from each question are totaled for individual participants. The mean and standard deviation of scores across the sample are calculated, which indicate the average and spread, respectively

Inferential statistics  

• For ordinal data, a hypothesis may be formed, such as exploring the connection between social media use and awareness of current affairs. A chi-square test of independence is employed to examine the correlation between these attributes.
• For interval data, consider an investigation into the relationship between IQ scores and social media use. Pearson’s correlation is used to determine whether the overall Likert scale score correlates with IQ. The analysis specifies whether data are treated at the ordinal or interval level.

Analysis at the ordinal level  

Researchers commonly treat Likert-derived data as ordinal, where response categories are ranked, but equal distance between categories is not assumed. Descriptive statistics, such as the median or mode, are used to summarize data numerically or visually. Bar charts illustrate the frequency of each choice. Appropriate inferential statistics for ordinal data include Spearman’s correlation or a chi-square test for independence.  

Analysis at the interval level  

Likert-derived data can also be treated at the interval level, presuming equal distances between response categories. Appropriate inferential statistics, like analysis of variance (ANOVA) or Pearson’s correlation, are used, provided the assumption of interval-level data is stated. Descriptive statistics involve totaling scores, calculating the mean, and determining the standard deviation across the sample.  

Advantages and disadvantages of Likert scale  

The advantages of Likert scale include (i) granular results, allowing for a more detailed understanding of individuals’ perspectives on a given topic, and (ii) quantitative nature, which allows handling and statistical analysis of complex topics. Further, Likert scales are (iii) user-friendly and time-saving as they are closed-ended. Therefore, large samples can be used to obtain data.  

The disadvantages of this scale are that it is prone to (i) response bias (i.e., respondents either agree or disagree with statements due to fatigue or social desirability) and (ii) subjective interpretation (owing to variation in interpretation of the items). Moreover, being closed-ended, (iii) Likert-type questions restrict the choices of the respondents.  

Frequently asked questions  

• What is the 5-point Likert scale ?  

The 5-point scale is a commonly used rating scale in social science research and survey questionnaires. Respondents are asked to indicate their level of agreement or disagreement with a statements based on five response items.  

• What is the best Likert scale for research?  

The choice depends on the nature of the research question, target audience, and study objectives. However, the 5-point Likert scale is most commonly used; it is versatile owing to its balanced response options and ease of interpretation. Many researchers are familiar with it, and it is widely accepted in academic and professional settings for analyzing Likert scale data .   

• How can I use the Likert scale in research?  

Here are step-by-step guidelines on how to use a Likert scale in research :   

Begin by defining the objectives of your research. Identify the specific attitudes, opinions, or perceptions you intend to measure using the Likert scale . Select an appropriate scale format, and create clear and unbiased statements and a balanced set of response items. Next, conduct a pilot test or pretest of the scale with a small sample to identify any issues with clarity or response patterns. Use the feedback to refine and improve your scale. Finally, present your findings in a clear and organized manner in your research report or article.   

• Are Likert scales quantitative or qualitative?  

Likert scales are quantitative in nature. While the data collected from Likert scales are ordinal (meaning there is a clear order or ranking of responses), they are treated as quantitative for statistical analysis purposes because the scales involve assigning numerical values to responses, allowing for the application of various quantitative statistical techniques.  

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Likert Scale Questionnaire: Examples & Analysis

Saul McLeod, PhD

Editor-in-Chief for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester

Saul McLeod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

Learn about our Editorial Process

Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

Associate Editor for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education

Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.

On This Page:

Various kinds of rating scales have been developed to measure attitudes directly (i.e., the person knows their attitude is being studied).  The most widely used is the Likert scale (1932).

In its final form, the Likert scale is a five (or seven) point scale that is used to allow an individual to express how much they agree or disagree with a particular statement.

The Likert scale (typically) provides five possible answers to a statement or question that allows respondents to indicate their positive-to-negative strength of agreement or strength of feeling regarding the question or statement.

I believe that ecological questions are the most important issues facing human beings today.

A Likert scale assumes that the strength/intensity of an attitude is linear, i.e., on a continuum from strongly agree to strongly disagree, and makes the assumption that attitudes can be measured.

For example, each of the five (or seven) responses would have a numerical value that would be used to measure the attitude under investigation.

Examples of Items for Surveys

In addition to measuring statements of agreement, Likert scales can measure other variations such as frequency, quality, importance, and likelihood, etc.

Analyzing Data

The response categories in the Likert scales have a rank order, but the intervals between values cannot be presumed equal. Therefore, the mean (and standard deviation) are inappropriate for ordinal data (Jamieson, 2004).

Statistics you can use are:

• Summarize using a median or a mode (not a mean as it is ordinal scale data ); the mode is probably the most suitable for easy interpretation.
• Display the distribution of observations in a bar chart (it can’t be a histogram because the data is not continuous).

Critical Evaluation

Likert Scales have the advantage that they do not expect a simple yes / no answer from the respondent but rather allow for degrees of opinion and even no opinion at all.

Therefore, quantitative data is obtained, which means that the data can be analyzed relatively easily.

Offering anonymity on self-administered questionnaires should further reduce social pressure and thus may likewise reduce social desirability bias.

Paulhus (1984) found that more desirable personality characteristics were reported when people were asked to write their names, addresses, and telephone numbers on their questionnaire than when they were told not to put identifying information on the questionnaire.

Limitations

However, like all surveys, the validity of the Likert scale attitude measurement can be compromised due to social desirability.

This means that individuals may lie to put themselves in a positive light.  For example, if a Likert scale was measuring discrimination, who would admit to being racist?

Bowling, A. (1997). Research Methods in Health . Buckingham: Open University Press.

Burns, N., & Grove, S. K. (1997). The Practice of Nursing Research Conduct, Critique, & Utilization . Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders and Co.

Jamieson, S. (2004). Likert scales: how to (ab) use them . Medical Education, 38(12) , 1217-1218.

Likert, R. (1932). A Technique for the Measurement of Attitudes. Archives of Psychology , 140, 1–55.

Paulhus, D. L. (1984). Two-component models of socially desirable responding . Journal of personality and social psychology, 46(3) , 598.

Further Information

• History of the Likert Scale
• Essential Elements of Questionnaire Design and Development

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What is a Likert Scale: Types, Examples, & Best Practices

The Likert Scale is a widely used survey tool designed to measure attitudes, opinions, and perceptions by gauging the extent of agreement or disagreement with a particular statement.

An essential aspect of market research for researchers is the ability to gauge the respondents’ opinion towards a brand, feature, product, service, and more. Measuring opinions helps to measure the level of changes required.

Using a quantitative analysis data collection tool in the research process, like a Likert Scale, allows research teams to understand respondent sentiments. Quantifying a like or dislike aids in making timely changes and supplies a critical tool in the insights collection and management process of brand and research teams.

What is a Likert Scale?

A Likert Scale is a unidimensional scale that researchers use to collect respondents’ attitudes and opinions. Researchers often use this psychometric scale to understand the views and perspectives towards a brand, product, or target market.

There are different variations, and each one are focused directly on measuring people’s opinions, such as the Guttman scale , Bogardus scale , and Thurstone scale .

Psychologist Rensis Likert established a distinction between a scale that materializes from a collection of responses to a group of items (maybe 8 or more). Responses are measured in a range of values.

Given its importance for budding research professionals, we have created a guide to help you understand the critical aspects of this tool and best practices for mastering it to conduct better research. We hope you find it helpful!

Types of Likert Scales

The Likert Scale has become a favorite among researchers to collect opinions about customer satisfaction or employee experience . You can divide this scale primarily into two major types:

• Even Likert Scale
• Odd Likert Scale

1. Even Likert Scale

Researchers use even Likert Scale to collect extreme feedback without providing a neutral option.

• 4-Point Likert Scale for importance : This type of Likert Scale allows researchers to include four extreme options without a neutral choice. Here the various degrees of importance are represented in a 4-Point Likert Scale.

• 8-Point Likelihood of recommendation: This is a variation of the previously explained 4-point Likert Scale, the only difference being, this scale has eight options to collect feedback about the likelihood of a recommendation.

2. Odd Likert Scale

Researchers use the odd Likert Scale to give the respondents the choice of responding neutrally.

• 5-point Likert Scale: With five answer options, researchers use this odd Likert Scale question to gather information about a topic by including a neutral answer option for respondents to select if they don’t wish to answer from the extreme choices in their research design . 

• 7-point Likert Scale: The 7-point Likert Scale adds two more answer options at extreme ends of a 5-point Likert Scale question.

• 9-point Likert Scale: A 9-point Likert Scale is quite uncommon, but you can use it by adding two more answer options to the 7-point Likert Scale question.

Likert scale questions

Likert Scale questions are fundamental for surveys and research, allowing respondents to express their attitudes, opinions, or behaviors across various options. Here’s how each type of Likert Scale question works, along with practical examples:

1. Agreement

Agreement-based Likert Scale questions assess the capacity to which respondents agree or disagree with a statement, permitting researchers to capture their attitudes and opinions on particular topics.

Example Question:

“The training program met my expectations.”

Response Scale:

• Strongly Agree
• Strongly Disagree

This type of question is ideal for gauging satisfaction, perception, or approval of services, policies, or experiences.

2. Frequency

Frequency-based questions assess how often a respondent performs or experiences a particular action or behavior. This type of question helps identify patterns in usage or behavior over time.

“How often do you use our mobile app?”

• Very Frequency
• Occasionally

Use this question type to monitor frequency patterns and habits among respondents, especially for product or service usage.

3. Importance

Importance-based Likert questions evaluate the significance or priority respondents place on certain elements, features, or aspects. They help researchers understand what matters most to their audience.

“How important is access to 24/7 customer support?”

• Extremely Important
• Very Important
• Moderately Important
• Slightly Important
• Not Important at all

Such questions are essential for prioritizing features, services, or policies according to user needs and preferences.

4. Interest

Interest-based questions measure respondents’ enthusiasm or engagement toward a topic or activity. They’re useful for identifying preferences and gauging how likely respondents are to pursue or engage in future offerings.

“How interested are you in attending future workshops?”

• Very Interested
• Somewhat Interested
• Somewhat Uninterested
• Very Uninterested

This type of question is valuable for gauging potential interest in new programs, events, or products.

By crafting questions that suit each purpose, researchers can gain insightful, actionable data on attitudes, behaviors, and priorities, guiding better decision-making and improved experiences.

Characteristics of Likert Scale

The Likert Scale came into existence in 1932 in the form of the 5-point scale, which is used extensively. These scales range from a group of general topics to the most specific ones that ask respondents to indicate their level of agreement, approval or, belief. Some significant characteristics of the Likert Scale, are:

01. Related answers

Items should be easily related to the sentence’s answers, regardless of whether the relationship between item and sentence is evident.

02. Scale type

The items must always have two extreme positions and an intermediate answer option that serves as graduation between the extremes.

03. Number of answer options

It is essential to mention that although the most common Likert Scale is that of 5 items, the use of more items helps to generate greater precision in the results.

04. Increasing reliability of the scale

Researchers often increase the ends of the scale to create a seven-point scale by adding “very” to the top and bottom of the five-point scales. The seven-point scale reaches the upper limits of the reliability of the scale.

05. Using wide scales

As a general rule, Likert and others recommend that it be better to use a scale as wide as possible. One can always collapse the answers into concise groups, if appropriate, for analysis.

06. Lack of a neutral option

By considering these details, scales are sometimes curtailed to an even number of categories (usually four) to eliminate the “neutral” possibility on a “forced choice” survey scale.

07. Intrinsic variable

The primary Likert record clearly states that there could be an inherent variable whose value marks the feedback or attitudes of the respondents, and this underlying variable is the interval level, at best.

Example of a Likert Scale

To better understand this concept, we have created this example where we suppose that a researcher uses a Likert Scale question as a dichotomous option question to collect product feedback.  He/ she frames the question as “The product was a good purchase,” with the options listed as agree or disagree. The other way to frame this Likert Scale questionnaire is, “Please state your satisfaction level with the products,” and the options range from very dissatisfied to very satisfied.

When responding to an item on the likert Scale, the user responds based explicitly on their agreement or disagreement level. These scales allow for determining the level of agreement or disagreement of the respondents.

The Likert Scale assumes that the strength and intensity of the experience are linear . Therefore it goes from a complete agreement to a complete disagreement, assuming that attitudes can be measured.

Do you need more examples? Check out these Likert Scale examples .

Likert Scale Data and Analysis

Researchers use surveys regularly to measure and analyze the quality of products or services. The Likert Scale is a standard classification format for studies. The respondents provide their opinion (data) about the quality of a product/service from high to low or better to worse using two, four, five, or seven levels.

Researchers and auditors generally group collected data into a hierarchy of four fundamental measurement levels – nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio measurement levels for further analysis :

• Nominal data: Data in which the answers classified into variables need not necessarily have quantitative data or order is called nominal data .
• Ordinal data: Data in which it is possible to sort or classify the answers, but it is impossible to measure the distance is called ordinal data .
• Interval data: Aggregate data in which measurements of orders and distances can be made is called interval data .
• Ratio data: Ratio data is similar to interval data. The only difference is an equal and definitive ratio between each analyzing data and absolute “zero” being treated as a point of origin.

Data analysis using nominal, interval, and ratio data are generally transparent and straightforward. Ordinal data analyzes data, particularly in regards to Likert or other scales in the surveys. This is not a new research problem . The effectiveness of handling ordinal data as interval data continues to be debatable in survey analysis of various applied fields. Some of the significant scale points to keep in mind are:

1. Statistical tests

Researchers sometimes treat ordinal data as interval data because they claim that parametric statistical tests are more powerful than nonparametric alternatives. Moreover, inferences from parametric tests are easy to interpret and provide more information than non-parametric options.

2. Concentration on Likert Scales

However, the treatment of ordinal data as interval data without examining the values ​​of the data set and the analysis’s objectives can mislead and misrepresent the results of a survey. To analyze scalar data more appropriately, researchers prefer to consider ordinal data as interval data and concentrate on Likert Scale s .

3. Median or range for inspecting data

A universal guideline suggests that the mean and the standard deviation are baseless parameters for detailed statistics when the data are on ordinal scales , just like any parametric analysis based on normal distribution. The non-parametric test is done based on the appropriate median or range for inspecting data.

Best Practices for Analyzing the Results

Because the Likert element data is discrete, ordinal, and limited in scope, there has been a long dispute over the most logical way to analyze Likert data. The first option is between parametric and non-parametric tests. The advantages and disadvantages of each type of analysis are generally described as the following:

• Parametric tests assume a regular and uninterrupted division.
• Non-parametric tests do not assume a regular or uninterrupted division. However, there are concerns about a lesser ability to detect a difference when one exists.

Which is the best option? When deciding to analyze information received from a survey that uses Likert Scale questions, a researcher has to make a real decision.

• Over the years, a series of studies that have tried to answer this Likert Scale questionnaire. However, they have been inclined to look at a limited number of potential distributions for Likert data, which causes the generalization of the results to suffer. Thanks to increases in computing power, simulation studies can now thoroughly evaluate a wide range of distributions.
• The researchers identified a diverse set of 14 distributions that are representative of the actual Likert data. The computer program extracted self-sufficient pairs of samples to test all possible combinations of the 14 distributions.
• In total, 10,000 random samples were generated for each of the 98 distribution combinations. The samples pairs are analyzed using both the two-sample t-test and the Mann-Whitney test to compare the efficacy of each test. The study also evaluated different sample sizes.
• The results show that the Type I error rates (false positive) for all pairs of distributions are very close to the target quantities. If an organization uses any of the analysis and results are statistically significant, it does not need to be too worried about a false positive.
• The results also show that for most pairs of distributions, the difference between the power of the two tests is trivial. If there is a difference at the population level, any of the analysis is equally likely to detect it.
• There are some pairs of specific distributions where there is a power difference between the two tests. If an organization runs both tests on the same data and gets different results, one test shows significance while the other does not. This difference in power usually happens in only a small number of cases.
• In general, the choice between the two analyzes is a loop. If an organization needs to compare two groups of five-point Likert data, the analysis method usually does not matter.
• Both parametric and non-parametric tests equally guard against false negatives and false positives. These patterns are valid for sample sizes of 10, 30, and 200 per group.

Advantages of Likert scale

There are many advantages of using this rating Scale in a survey for market research . They are:

• Ease of implementation: This universally accepted scale can be easily understood and applied to various customer satisfaction or employee satisfaction surveys.
• Quantifiable answer options: Quantify Likert items with no apparent relation to the expression and conduct statistical analysis on the received results.
• Analyze the rank of opinions: There may be a sample with varied views about a particular topic. The Likert Scale offers a ranking of the views of these people surveyed.
• Simple to respond: Respondents can understand the intent of this scale and quickly answer the question.

Disadvantages of Likert Scale

The Likert Scale is typically used to measure attitudes and opinions, but they have several disadvantages:

• Limited Depth: Due to the fixed nature of the options, responses may only capture part of the complexity of attitudes or feelings.
• Central Tendency Bias: Respondents might choose neutral or middle options to avoid extreme opinions.
• Subjectivity in Interpretation: Individuals may interpret the scale points (e.g., “Agree” vs. “Strongly Agree”) differently.
• Lack of Precision: The interval between scale points is only sometimes equal, making statistical analysis less reliable.

Want to Use the Likert Scale in a Survey? Do it with QuestionPro!

The Likert-scale survey is a comprehensive technique for gauging feedback and information, making it significantly easy to understand and respond. This is a critical question to measure the opinion or attitude towards a specific topic. S o that it will be of great help in the next step of an investigation.

With QuestionPro, an organization can conduct an online survey using the Likert Scale s . Start by creating a free account and start testing this type of question.

For more information or questions, please consult our online chat and tell us about your project. We’ll recommend the best research tool to suit your needs.

The Likert Scale helps measure attitudes, opinions, and perceptions in many areas, from research to business. Its simple design makes it a popular choice for collecting data, while its structure allows for precise and accurate analysis.

When used well, the Likert Scale improves data collection and helps make decisions by understanding group opinions better. When used effectively, the Likert Scale enhances data collection and facilitates informed decision-making based on a better understanding of collective sentiment.

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What Is the Likert Scale? Definition, Examples, and Uses

A Likert scale is often used in psychology research to evaluate information about attitudes, opinions, and beliefs.

In this article

A Likert scale is a psychometric rating scale that is frequently used in research and other areas. Such scales are administered using questionnaires where respondents rate their reactions, feelings, or attitudes on a scale (usually between 1 and 5).

The questions on a Likert scale are known as Likert-type items. Items on a Likert scale consist of statements defining and describing the specific content being measured, typically focusing on expressing preferences, judgments, opinions, beliefs, and attitudes.

For example, political opinion researchers might ask participants to rate how strongly they feel about specific topics on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 corresponding to “I don’t care at all” and 5 corresponding to “I care deeply.”

This scale was invented by psychologist Rensis Likert. Likert introduced this scale in a monograph titled A Technique for the Measurement of Attitudes in 1932.

How a Likert Scale Work s

A Likert scale is based on the idea that feelings, attitudes, and opinions can be rated in terms of intensity on a linear scale. This intensity can be assigned a numeric value which can later be used to derive a numeric score.

A Likert scale can measure various types of information:

• Frequency : Test items may ask respondents to describe how often they engage in a behavior. This might include options ranging from “daily” to “rarely.”
• Intensity : A Likert scale can be used to assess the intensity of a person’s feelings about a particular subject.
• Quality : Test items might ask respondents to rate their opinion of the quality of a particular product or service, with responses ranging from “excellent” to “very poor.”
• Likelihood : Respondents may also be asked to rate the likelihood that they will engage in a particular behavior, with responses ranging from “very likely” to “very unlikely.”
• Agreement : Test items may also ask respondents to identify whether or not they agree with different statements, with options ranging from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree.”
• Familiarity : A Likert scale may also ask participants to describe how familiar they are with a particular idea, item, or individual. This type of scale is often used in marketing to determine how familiar an audience is with a brand or product.

The scaling method on a Likert scale can be unipolar or bipolar. Unipolar scales tend to be easier for respondents to understand and range from a low to a high response. An example would be “How appealing is this product?” with responses ranging from “not appealing at all” to “very appealing. 

Bipolar means it ranges from either a positive or negative response to an item, with a neutral middle choice such as “neither agree or disagree.” However, sometimes this option is not included, which forces respondents to make either a positive or negative choice.

Examples of a Likert Scale

You have probably encountered a variety of Likert scales in the past. Examples of items you might find on a Likert scale include:

Customer Satisfaction Surveys

How happy are you with our service?

5 – Very happy

4 – Somewhat happy

3 – Neutral

2 – Somewhat unhappy

1 – Very unhappy

Opinion Polls

Most people are satisfied with the job that Congress does.

5 – Strongly agree

4 – Somewhat agree

3 – Neither agree nor disagree

2 – Somewhat disagree

1 – Strongly disagree

Consumer Behavior Surveys

Based on your experience, how likely are you to recommend us to a friend?

4 – Very likely

3 –  Somewhat likely

2 – Somewhat unlikely

1 – Very unlikely

While options on each item often range from 4 to 5, they can also consist of just 2 options or even 7 or more. The specific number depends on what is being assessed, and factors such as time available.

Interpreting the Results of a Likert Scale

To assess and interpret the results of a Likert scale, researchers will assign a point value to each response. The exact numbers that are used depend on the number of responses that are presented on the scale. Common values include 1 point for responses that are “strongly disagree,” “very unlikely,” and similar responses; and 5 points for responses that are “strongly agree,” “very likely,” and similar responses.

Results are then tabulated. Specific measures that can be particularly meaningful when interpreting the results include the mode, which is the most frequently occurring response in a data set, and the mean, which is the mathematical average.

The numbers that researchers choose to utilize when evaluating the results may depend on a variety of factors, including the size of the sample.

Strengths and Limitations of Likert Scales

Like other types of psychological assessments, a Likert scale can have both pros and cons. On the plus side, a Likert scale can be used to collect qualitative information about a topic. 

One limitation of this measure is that it is sometimes prone to bias . Likert scales are sometimes affected by the acquiescence bias, also known as the “yes” bias. This bias causes respondents to either respond positively to negatively to test items, which is often influenced by how the question is worded. 

Participants may respond in ways that they believe are socially desirable, particularly if the results are not anonymous or if they are asked to provide identifying information.

When to Use a Likert Scale

Likert scales are great for getting qualitative information from a group of people. Some situations where you might want to use a Likert scale include:

• When you want to know the prevailing attitudes that are present in a group
• When you want to know what an audience thinks about a brand or product
• When you want to know how employees feel about specific organizational initiatives
• When you are interested in knowing more about how customers feel about the services they receive
• When you want to understand public sentiment about political issues or candidates

Research also suggests that Likert scales can be effective and powerful tools for assessing the quality of life in patients following medical treatments.

Tips for Using a Likert Scale

If you need to create a Likert scale for a psychology class, here are some tips that can help:

• Write clear, understandable questions
• Keep responses consistent
• Try to use questions instead of statements
• Avoid asking leading questions
• Include a broad range of questions
• Ask open-ended questions
• Flip the scales to change how responses are scored (i.e. sometimes 1=very dissatisfied and other times 1=very satisfied)

Likert scales can be particularly useful when collecting attitudinal information, which is why this type of rating scale is so frequently utilized in psychology, education, social science, political, and marketing research. However, such tests can also have limitations, including potential bias caused by social pressure to respond in ways that are viewed as socially desirable. 

Jebb AT, Ng V, Tay L. A review of key Likert scale development advances: 1995-2019 . Front Psychol . 2021;12:637547. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.637547

Krzych ŁJ, Lach M, Joniec M, Cisowski M, Bochenek A. The Likert scale is a powerful tool for quality of life assessment among patients after minimally invasive coronary surgery . Kardiochir Torakochirurgia Pol . 2018;15(2):130-134. doi:10.5114/kitp.2018.76480

Sullivan GM, Artino AR Jr. Analyzing and interpreting data from Likert-type scales . J Grad Med Educ . 2013;5(4):541-542. doi:10.4300/JGME-5-4-18

Warmbrod JR. Reporting and interpreting scores derived from Likert-type scales . JAE . 2014;55(5):30-47. doi:10.5032/jae.2014.05030

Editor-in-Chief

Kendra Cherry, MS.Ed., is a writer, editor, psychosocial therapist, and founder of Explore Psychology, an online psychology resource. She is a Senior Writer for Verywell Mind and is the author of the Everything Psychology Book (Adams Media).

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Using a Likert Scale in Psychology

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell.

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What a Likert Scale Looks Like

Creating items on a likert scale.

• Disadvantages

A Likert scale is a type of psychometric scale frequently used in psychology questionnaires. It was developed by and named after organizational psychologist Rensis Likert. Self-report inventories are one of the most widely used tools in psychological research.

On a Likert scale, respondents are asked to rate the level to which they agree with a statement. Such scales are often used to assess personality , attitudes , and behaviors.

At a Glance

While you might not have known what they were called, you've probably encountered many different Likert scales. Simply put, a Likert scale is a type of assessment item that asks you to rate your agreement with a statement (often from "Strongly Agree" to "Strongly Disagree.") Such scales can be a great way to get a nuanced look at how people feel about a particular topic, which is why you'll often see this type of item on political surveys and psychological questionnaires.

On a survey or questionnaire, a typical Likert item usually takes the following format:

• Strongly disagree
• Neither agree nor disagree
• Strongly agree

It is important to note that the individual questions that take this format are known as Likert items, while the Likert scale is the format of these items.

Other Items on a Likert Scale

In addition to looking at how much respondents agree with a statement, Likert items may also focus on likelihood, frequency, or importance. In such cases, survey takers would be asked to identify:

• How likely they believe something to be true (Always true, Usually true, Sometimes true, Usually not true, Never true)
• How frequently they engage in a behavior or experience a particular thought (Very frequently, Frequently, Occasionally, Rarely, or Never)
• How important they feel something is to them (Very important, Important, Somewhat important, Not very important, Not important)

A Note on Pronunciation

If you've ever taken a psychology course, you've probably heard the term pronounced "lie-kurt." Since the term is named after Rensis Likert, the correct pronunciation should be "lick-urt."

In some cases, experts who are very knowledgeable about the subject matter might develop items on their own. Oftentimes, it is helpful to have a group of experts help brainstorm different ideas to include on a scale.

• Start by creating a large pool of potential items to draw from.
• Select a group of judges to score the items.
• Sum the item scores given by the judges.
• Calculate intercorrelations between paired items.
• Eliminate items that have a low correlation between the summed scores.
• Find averages for the top quarter and the lowest quarter of judges and do a t-test of the means between the two. Eliminate questions with low t-values, which indicates that they score low in the ability to discriminate.

After weeding out the questions that have been deemed irrelevant or not relevant enough to include, the Likert scale is then ready to be administered.

Experts suggest that when creating Likert scale items, survey creators should pay careful attention to wording and clearly define target constructs.

Some researchers have questioned whether having an even or odd number of response options might influence the usefulness of such data. Some research has found that having five options increases psychometric precision but found no advantages to having six or more response options.

Advantages of a Likert Scale

Because Likert items are not simply yes or no questions, researchers are able to look at the degree to which people agree or disagree with a statement.

Research suggests that Likert scales are a valuable and convenient way for psychologists to measure characteristics that cannot be readily observed.

Likert scales are often used in political polling in order to obtain a more nuanced look at how people feel about particular issues or certain candidates.

Disadvantages of a Likert Scale

Likert scales are convenient and widely used, but that doesn't mean that they don't have some drawbacks. As with other assessment forms, Likert scales can also be influenced by the need to appear socially desirable or acceptable.

People may not be entirely honest or forthright in their answers or may even answer items in ways that make themselves appear better than they are. This effect can be particularly pronounced when looking at behaviors that are viewed as socially unacceptable.

What This Means For You

The next time you fill out a questionnaire or survey, notice if they use Likert scales to evaluate your feelings about a subject. Such surveys are common in doctor's offices to help assess your symptoms and their severity. They are also often used in political or consumer polls to judge your feelings about a particular issue, candidate, or product.

Joshi A, Kale S, Chandel S, Pal DK. Likert scale: Explored and explained . British Journal of Applied Science & Technology. 2015;7(4):396-403. doi:10.9734/BJAST/2015/14975

East Carolina University Psychology Department. How do you pronounce "Likert?" What is a Likert scale?

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By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."