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How to create Likert scale questions

This describes how to create a set of Likert scale questions in a matrix presentation style using SurveyGold.



STEP 1: CREATE A SECTION TO CONTAIN LIKERT SCALE QUESTIONS

Start by creating a section in which to put Likert scale questions that have the same set of response choices. SurveyGold automatically creates a matrix presentation style when all of the questions in a given section have the exact same set of responses. So, that addresses the matrix presentation style aspect of your Likert scale survey questions.



STEP 2: ADD LIKERT SCALE QUESTION TO THE SECTION

Next, add your questions to the newly created section. A key thing to know is that SurveyGold automatically assigns an integer point value (called an "enumeration") to each response in a given set of responses. This is done without any extra effort on your part as the survey author. The point value of each response choice is based on the ordinal position of a response choice in the set of responses for a question. So, for example, imagine that one of your Likert scale questions looks something like this...

= = = =

I like shoveling snow.

( ) Strongly Agree
( ) Agree
( ) Neither
( ) Disagree
( ) Strongly Disagree

= = = =

...then SurveyGold automatically assigns an integer point value as follows:

1 for Strongly Agree
2 for Agree
3 for Neither
4 for Disagree
5 for Strongly Disagree

So, that addresses the scoring aspect.

Tip: When adding new questions to the same section, check the option "Use choices from the most recent new question" as a time saver. This automatically populates the response choices for the new question with the responses from the last question you saved.



STEP 3: VIEW/ANALYZE LIKERT SCALE QUESTION RESPONSES
Finally, with regards to analysis/reporting, SurveyGold automatically calculates mean, mode, median, minimum, maximum and standard deviation based on these enumeration values.

These calculations appear in graphs in the View Results tab as well as the Publish Word and Publish Web actions in the Analyze Results tab. The enumeration values also appear when responses are converted to Excel, SPSS, text, etc., via the Convert Responses action in the Analyze Results tab when using the record layout option of "One response per record". This makes it easy to perform your own calculations using other applications.

See this brief video tutorial for more information.

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