Surveys are strong tools to gather opinions, acquire measurements in attitudes, and to analyse behaviour. Likert scale is probably the most popular in the center of most surveys, which is a rating technique that introduces evaluations and as a result provides them as measurable facts. A typical decision one has to make in design is the use of a 5-point vs 7-point Likert scale. Both are effective, but their decisions affect the quality of the answers, the accuracy of the data, and the reliability of the results, in general.
The most popular grades used, respectively, are the 5-Point vs 7-Point Likert Scale: the former is the simplest and the last is the most detailed. The main difference between these scales clarifies the use of the most appropriate scale as per the objectives of the research. In this blog, we will make comparisons between both scales, the merits and the demerits, and how they can affect the effectiveness of a survey response scale.
Likert Scale Comparison
One of the most popular and commonly used rating scales questionnaires, the Likert scale was designed by psychologist Rensis Likert in 1932. It assists in quantifying the subjective attitudes by measuring the degree of the respondent’s agreement and/or satisfaction using a fixed scale.
Key Features of a Likert Scale
A Likert scale is effective because it:
A Likert scale is efficient as it requires the participants to respond only to the questions they know and are sure of the answers.
- Measures attitudes or perceptions: It is a designed method of gathering views on agreement, satisfaction or significance.
- Converts emotions to a metric: It describes feelings into data, which can be analysed.
- Is useful in making statistical analyses: Scales are commonly used in psychology, sociology and business in Likert scale analysis of data.
- Enhances reliability of the survey question: The standardised choices enhance the rating scale in large groups.
Why It’s Popular
Likert scale is simple to administer, very flexible and has something of reliability. Whether you are building employee engagement survey or market research questionnaire, it can help you gather information in a short time and in a consistent manner.
5-Point Likert Scale Advantages
The most common one is the 5-point Likert; this is because of the good balance between ease of use and information it provides. It would be great in surveys of general respondents or novices.
Benefits of 5-Point Scales
- Simple and intuitive: The limited options allow the respondents to understand what is expected of them since the directions are clear and misinterpretation of the questions is unlikely.
- Quick to complete: Participants answer fewer questions and therefore can complete the survey quicker, which reduces dropout.
- Lower fatigue risk: Having fewer choice options cuts down on mental strain, and can be useful when a survey consists of many questions.
- Universally recognised: The popularity of 5-point data makes it easier to compare according to different studies and industries.
Best Uses for 5-Point Scales
This format suits better when customer satisfaction level surveys are conducted, also as a student or employee engagement survey. It works exceptionally well when simplicity and rapid response are more imperative than shades of meaning.
7-Point Likert Scale Benefits
The 7-point Likert scale is a development of similar nature with extra granularity in the surveys. By introducing two more points it catches more shades of opinion.
Advantages of 7-Point Scales
- More detail and nuance: Respondents are able to clarify their responses by making some adjustments, which are not evident in 5-point scales.
- Higher precision: More options lead to a more sensitive measure and thus differences in opinions or behavior could be more easily observed.
- Stronger reliability: 7-point scales in psychometric testing tend to deliver more reliable, more consistent and more repeatable results.
- Enhanced data analysis: The deeper data makes more exact significant statistical tests and psychometric scale choices.
Best Uses for 7-Point Scales
This structure is very useful when there is academic research, a psychology experiment, and market research where proper feedback is needed in order to make valid conclusions.
Optimal Likert Scale Length
The question that is quite often asked is: how many points should Likert scales have? It will take you back to the purpose of your survey and who you are asking.
Factors to Consider
- Audience sophistication: 5-point scales are better over general audiences whereas, assuming typing errors are the same, the scholars can handle a 7-point accuracy.
- Survey complexity: Assuming you have a long survey, a 5- point scale will not cause fatigue. In the case of shorter, more precise surveys, 7-point scales work better.
- Clarity vs. precision: 5-point scales are easier to use; 7-point scales are more measuring.
- Context: In cases of speedy satisfaction checks, 5-point is optimum. To provide more details, 7-points are more searchful.
Practical Rule
Use a 5-point scale when an easy scale and accessibility is important. Use a 7-point scale where precision and reliability, along with more advanced Likert scale data analysis is required.
Likert Scale Reliability & Precision
The decision scale has a direct impact on reliability and precision of surveys.
Reliability of 5-Point Scales
The 5-point scale gives the same results no matter what the audience. It minimizes errors and confusion since it is easy to understand. It can however overlook subtle opinion variations.
Reliability of 7-Point Scales
The 7-point scale will be useful in carrying out detailed studies as it is more reliable where accuracy matters. It measures subtle attitudes but responds to complexity by the respondents who might be confused.
Precision Comparison
- 5-point: Generalised but not detailed.
- 7-point: Intercepts tiny changes in responses and enhances statistical specificity.
In short, five-point scales are suitable at large groups of people, whereas the seven-point scales are more accurate when dealing with professional or academic studies.
Psychometric Scale Options
There are other forms of psychometrics scales besides 5-point vs 7-point Likert scales
1: 4-Point Scales
These eliminate the neutral expression, such that respondents have to choose between positive and negative. This is effective on decision-making environment where neutrality is not beneficial.
2: 6-Point Scales
Kind of like 4-point but much more granular, this structure guides the respondent toward taking a position and is still flexible. Commonsely applied in assessment of performance.
3: 10-Point Scales
Providing as much information as possible, these scales are prevalent in Net Promoter Score (NPS) surveys. They offer good detail, but there is the risk of overloads on the participants and a depression of the quality of responses.
These options demonstrate that survey designers have to compromise between scale granularity and comfort of respondents.
Likert Scale Pros and Cons
Pros of the 5-Point Likert Scale
1: Simple and intuitive
The 5 point scale is simple to complete based on fewer choices and thus seems intuitive to all respondents, even the novice, because there are no confusions and they are suited to be used in general audience surveys.
2: Quick to complete
The 5-point format takes the participants a shorter time to answer, which means that more people will complete the questionnaire, and it will lower the dropout rates, making the overall quality of the answers more reliable.
3: Lower fatigue risk
The short scales result in reduced mental load and is particularly advantageous in longer surveys as too many choices can be exhausting or cause respondents to disengage and not provide quality, versus bandwidth-consistent responses.
4: Universally recognised
The 5-point Likert scale has become one of the most important survey instruments and this makes the data on this instrument very easy to interpret and compare with existing ones or industry averages.
Cons of the 5-Point Likert Scale
1: Less precise
The 5-point scale only has simple distinctions and may lead to an oversimplification of responses that do not reflect even slight variations in attitude or satisfaction.
2: Limited nuance
Five categories do not allow researchers to capture individual shades of opinion: they might miss some slight variations in preferences, or some minor forms of discontent.
Pros of the 7-Point Likert Scale
1: More detail and nuance
The 7-point scale offers two extra dimensions which enable respondents to distinguish finer differences in opinion, leading to more details which can be especially beneficial in more sophisticated research situations.
2: Higher precision
The format generates more specific information on which researchers can identify subtle differences in attitudes and behaviours that might not be detected when simpler measures of rating scales are used.
3: Stronger reliability
Studies often show that 7-point scales provide more reliable data that is repeatable, thus a better tool to use when validating psychometrics where precision is paramount.
Cons of the 7-Point Likert Scale
1: More complex
Sometimes too many choices confuse the individual, resulting in reluctance or wavering responses, especially when people are not used to survey response sets.
2: Higher fatigue risk
In longer surveys respondent fatigue caused by the additional processing conducted in each question may have adverse effects on attention, accuracy, and final completion rate.
Likert Scale Data Analysis
Analysing 5-Point Scale Data
The simpler structure of the 5-point scale presupposes its best possible use when dealing with descriptions of statistics, including percentages, means, and frequency counts. It is also good when it comes to summarising the overall tendencies as well as providing apparent imagery.
Analysing 7-Point Scale Data
The 7-point scale enables more powerful techniques, such as regression, factor analysis and psychometric modeling. The more discrete distinctions enhance the performance of the rating scales and bring about more insights to make decisions.
Concisely, 5-point scales are optimal in clarity and simplicity whereas 7-point scales are more efficient in terms of data precision and statistical robustness.
Conclusion
Likert scales of 5 and 7 points are both useful in creating a survey.
- Use 5-point scales when the survey is simple, accessible, and when the general audience is surveyed.
- Use 7-point scales where precision, nuance and reliability of Likert scale responses are critical.
The length of a Likert scale is optimal and depends on your objective, your audience, and your circumstances. By matching your decision with your goals of using the survey, you will increase the satisfaction of respondents and be able to obtain more usable results.
FAQs
1: Is 5-point Likert scale better than 7-point?
Neither is superior all the time The 5-point scale is suitable in general surveys, whereas the 7 point one reveals more definite results in research heavy surveys.
2: Do 7-point Likert scales have greater reliability?
Yes. They can pick up minute variations of opinion and tend to generate reproducible results in higher-end research applications.
3: What is the typical Likert scale?
The 5-point rating scale is used the most across the world due to its simplicity and versatility.
4: Is it possible that Likert scales contain much more than 7 points?
Yes. Scales are usually limited to 10 points especially in those surveys of the NPS but risk overwhelming respondents.
6: What are the advantages of Likert scales?
They are easily analysed in terms of Likert scale, enable greater reliability and standardisation, and this makes them one of the most effective instruments of human perception.
