Likert Scale

Likert scales are rating scales used in questionnaires that measure people's attitudes, opinions, or perceptions. Subjects choose from a range of possible responses to a specific question or statement, such as “strongly agree,” “agree,” “neutral,” “disagree,” “strongly disagree.” Often, the categories of response are coded numerically, in which case the numerical values must be defined for that specific study, such as 1 = strongly agree, 2 = agree, and so on. Likert scales are named for Rennis Likert, who devised them in 1932.

Likert scales are widely used in social and educational research. Epidemiologists may employ Likert scales in surveying topics such as attitudes toward health or toward specific behaviors that affect health (e.g., smoking); opinions about the relative importance, efficacy, or practicality of different treatment ...