My opinion (for what it's worth) is to side with the ordinal camp. I believe
the Likert scale was originally designed to be this way.
See Oppenheim in "Questionnaire Design, Interviewing and Attitude
Measurement." Pub Continuum (2000) p 195-200.
The problem with this, however, is whether the "neutral" or mid-point answer
is truly "mid-point" or whether the respondent scored this because he/she
didn't know where else to put the response.
John
Mr John P. Hampson MSc; MPH
Teacher Practitioner Pharmacist
Gwenfro Academic Unit
Croesnewydd Road
Wrexham LL13 7YP
United Kingdom
Tel. 01978 727407 or
01978 291100 bleep 5881
Fax 01978 727167
E Mail [log in to unmask]
> -----Original Message-----
> From: E. Karen Rosenbloom [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 18 September 2001 09:04
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: 5 point Likert scale, nominal or ordinal?
>
> Good morning!
> I would like to ask the lists opinion about whether a 5 point Likert
> scale should be considered ordinal or nominal. I have found support of
> both camps.
> Thank you.
> Karen
> E. Karen Rosenbloom Pharmacist
> Senior lecturer Derby University.
> 21 Brook Road Loughton Essex IG10 1BW
> telephone 020 8508 3011
