Use of continuous rating scales
A lot of surveys are administered via the web. Researchers and practitioners may use discrete rating scales such as Likert-type scales (where respondents click one of radio buttons) or continuous rating scales such as sliders (where respondents drag a marker to indicate the degree of their opinion).
One of the WORC research teams worked on answering the following research questions:
- What are the discrete and continuous rating scales?
- What are the benefits and pitfalls of using discrete and continuous rating scales in survey questionnaires?
- What design issues should researchers and practitioners be aware of, when using continuous rating scales?
- What evidence-based recommendations on the use of continuous rating scales does the body of current research provide to the OPWL practitioners?
The WORC team’s article has been published in the 2018 Volume 57: Issue 5 of Performance Improvement Journal:
Chyung, S. Y., Swanson, I., Roberts, K., & Hankinson, A. (2018). Evidence-based survey design: The use of continuous rating scales in surveys. Performance Improvement Journal, 57(5), 38 – 48. https://doi.org/10.1002/pfi.21763
WORC researchers who participated in this project are:
The researchers also presented the research findings at the ISPI BABS chapter meeting and 2018 and 2019 ISPI conferences:
Chyung, S. Y., Swanson, I., & Shamsy, J. (2017, August 30). Write a strong survey instrument using evidence-based practices. Presented at ISPI-BABS Chapter meeting.
Chyung, S. Y., Swanson, I., Roberts, K., & Kennedy, M. (2018, April 8). Evidence-based survey design with Likert scales. Presented at ISPI’s Performance Improvement Conference, Seattle, WA.
Swanson, I., Roberts, K., Shamsy, J., & Chyung, S. Y. (2019, April 14). Bring me data! Evidence-based survey design. Presented at ISPI’s Performance Improvement Conference, New Orleans, LA.