SUMMATED SCALES

BY:-FIROZ QURSEHIDEPT. PSYCHIATRIC

NURSING

Dr. Rensis Likert

INTRODUCTIONThe original idea for the likert scale is found in Rensis Likert’s 1932 article in Archive of psychology titled “ A technique for the measurement of Attitudes”. This idea was expanded by Likert’s 1934 Journal of social psychology article titled “ A simple and Reliable method of scoring the Thurstone Attitude Scales”.

MEANING OF SUMMATED SCALE SUMMATED: To add together , total, sum up SCALE: A set of numbers, amounts, etc., use to

measure or compare the level of something.

DEFINITION OF SUMMATED SCALELIKERT /SUMMATED SCALE: One of the most

frequently used methods for assessment of people characteristics, especially attitudes, in the social sciences. It has been developed for the measurement of attitudes, beliefs, emotions, feelings, perceptions and personality.

ORSUMMATED/ LIKERT SCALE: Here the

respondents are asked to indicate a degree of agreement and disagreement with each of a series of a statement. Each scale item has 5 response categories ranging from strongly agree or strongly disagree.

EXAMPLE5 4 3 2

Strongly agree agree indifferent

disagree

1 strongly disagree

WEIGHTAGES OF NUMBERSThese options are given

weightages like:  5,4,3,2,1- POSITIVE ITEMS 1,2,3,4,5- NEGATIVE ITEMS

USES OF SUMMATED/LIKERT SCALE1.To measure the social attitude likert scale is

used.2.It uses only the definitely favourable and

unfavourable statement.3.It consists series of statements to which the

respondents is to react.4.Each response is given a numerical score and

the total score of a respondents is found out by summing up his different scores for different scores for different purposes.

5.Total score indicates his position on the continuum.

6.The likert scale uses several degrees of agreement or disagreement.

 

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION OF SUMMATED SCALE:1.The researcher gathers a large number of

statements which clearly indicate favourable or unfavourable attitude towards the issue in question.

2.The responses will imply various scores . the scores are consistently arranged either form the highest to lowest or form the lowest to highest.

3.By adding up different scores of an individual , his total score is calculated.

4.The researcher should identify the items which have a high discriminatory power.

THE FORMAT OF A TYPICAL LIKERT ITEM:

1. Strongly disagree2. Disagree3. Neither agree nor disagree4. Agree5. Strongly agree

FIVE – POINT LIKERT ITEM

Likert Scale Difference

Likert item

EXAMPLE:Codes: 1-strongly disagree, 2- disagree, 3- neutral, 4-agree, 5- strongly agree

S/N Affirmative perception statements Codes(i) OPAC / Web OPAC was Easier to use

than I expected 1 2 3 4 5

(ii) It was Fun to use 1 2 3 4 5(iii) It was Easy to use 1 2 3 4 5(iv) It helped me in finding the documents

faster 1 2 3 4 5

(v) It is Very difficult to use 1 2 3 4 5(vi) It is Very confusing to use 1 2 3 4 5(vii) I found more items than expected 1 2 3 4 5(viii) I am comfortable with simple search 1 2 3 4 5

(ix) I am comfortable complex/Advance search

1 2 3 4 5

(x) I am comfortable quick search 1 2 3 4 5(xi) I am comfortable when using

OPAC/Web OPAC1 2 3 4 5

Please measure the following affirmative perceptions about your library OPAC and Web OPAC use .

Codes: 1-strongly disagree, 2- disagree, 3- neutral, 4-agree, 5- strongly agree

S/N Parameters Codes(i) I access OPAC/Web OPAC stand alone

system1 2 3 4 5

(ii) I access OPAC/Web OPAC library premises 1 2 3 4 5(iii) It is easy to be familiar with this OPAC/Web

OPAC1 2 3 4 5

(iv) The OPAC/Web OPAC should have more flexible interfaces

1 2 3 4 5

(v) Library searching will be easier and faster with the Web OPAC

1 2 3 4 5

(vi) It is easy to read information provided in the Web OPAC

1 2 3 4 5

(vii) A OPAC/Web OPAC search by author is easy 1 2 3 4 5(viii) A OPAC/ Web OPAC search by call number

is easy1 2 3 4 5

(ix) OPAC/ Web OPAC scanning through a long display (forward or backward) is easy

1 2 3 4 5

(x) OPAC/ Web OPAC reducing the result when too much is retrieved is easy

1 2 3 4 5

Please mark your appreciation towards the use of your library OPAC/Web OPAC.

THE FORMAT OF A TYPICAL SEVEN LEVEL LIKERT ITEM

EXAMPLE:

ADVANTAGES It supplies more precise and definite response

towards an issue. It permits the revelation of several (5) degrees

of agreement or disagreement. It is more informative and reliable It has a broader area of reference method of

checking internal consistency.

DISADVANTAGES OF SUMMATED /LIKERT ITEM:1.The judgement on the basis of total

score , which is estimated by calculating the mean or median is not scientific.

2.The scores on the likert scale may be helpful for making an ordering of the people, but it not have any scientific.

3.There is no objective basis for expressing different degrees of disagreement.

4.A respondent is required to answer all questions on the scale.