The use of likert scales with children

David Mellor, Kathleen A. Moore

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Objective: We investigated elementary school children's ability to use a variety of Likert response formats to respond to concrete and abstract items.

    Methods: 111 children, aged 6-13 years, responded to 2 physical tasks that required them to make objectively verifiable judgments, using a 5-point response format. Then, using 25 items, we ascertained the consistency between responses using a "gold standard" yes/no format and responses using 5-point Likert formats including numeric values, as well as word-based frequencies, similarities to self, and agreeability.

    Results: All groups responded similarly to the physical tasks. For the 25 items, the use of numbers to signify agreement yielded low concordance with the yes/no answer format across age-groups. Formats based on words provided higher, but not perfect, concordance for all groups.

    Conclusions: Researchers and clinicians need to be aware of the limited understanding that children have of Likert response formats. © 2013 The Author 2013.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)369-379
    Number of pages11
    JournalJournal of Pediatric Psychology
    Volume39
    Issue number3
    Early online date24 Oct 2013
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Apr 2014

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