Journal of Pediatric Psychology · 2013 · 280 citations · 22 references
EducationEducational AssessmentEducational MeasurementChild DevelopmentPsychometricsScale DevelopmentChild AssessmentDevelopmental AssessmentItem AnalysisPsychological TestingRating Scale DevelopmentResponse Scale DesignConcordance AssessmentLikert ItemsLikert Response StylesLikert Scale DesignLikert ScalingLikert-type ItemsRating Scale ConstructionResponse Format Testing
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.
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