Is 5-Point Likert Scale a Better Choice to use? | Voxco (2024)

The 5-point Likert scale is a global scale that is used to assess attitudes and views. It is a scale with 5 answer options which has two utmost poles and a neutral option linked with intermediate answer options.

For example, agree, fully agree, neither agree nor disagree, disagree, and fully disagree.

Advantages of using a 5-point Likert Scale

1. Comparatively easier to understand – It is a very simple scale and identifies a neutral standpoint. Also, it is very easy to understand opposing extremes as positive or negative reviews.
2. An ideal scale for big surveys – If respondents are provided with lesser options they can easily give clear and relevant answers. Also, it helps in sampling the answers of a large audience.
3. Fabricates better data distribution – With a 5-point Likert scale you can get to know about the true emotions of respondents.

Disadvantages of using a 5-point Likert Scale

1. Can not compute all viewpoints of an issue- It is not always adequate to measure sentiments towards all particular problems. It sometimes restricts respondents from giving accurate answers.
2. Results may not be objective – Sometimes respondents are unable to effectively communicate their objective opinions. It is also possible that the purpose of the survey has not been achieved with a 5-point Likert scale.

1. 5-Point Likert scale for Agreement

A 5-Point Likert scale could also be used to measure possibility, frequency, significance, and many more variables.

How agreed you are with our services rendered?

• Agree
• Fully agree
• Neither agree nor disagree
• Disagree
• Fully disagree

2. 5-Point Likert scale for Satisfaction

To measure the satisfaction level 5-point Likert scale is used and it is also called the satisfaction scale. It ranges from one extreme viewpoint to another. Thus, provide respondents with the variations they want.

3. 5-Point Likert Scale for Frequency

A 5-point Likert scale is used to measure the frequency which provides respondents with the variations they want. For example,

Frequency: Never – Rarely – Occasionally– Always – Frequently

While measuring any complex service like customer engagement and opinions, you don’t want to use a 5-point Likert scale. In that situation, a wide array of information and opinions are used.

But if you want to get the opinions of patients and visitors about the cleanliness of dispensaries, a narrow array of information and opinions is sufficient.

If your respondents are provided with more sentiment levels, they would gather at a neutral point. When respondents are provided with options that do not match their feelings and ideas then they tend to be neutral.

You can add more options that would deliver an accurate viewpoint and avoid falsification in data. But sometimes having too many options can make respondents weary and distracted. And this could impact the responses of the audience.

Therefore, this proves that using a 5-point Likert scale would not let your audience lose interest. And this would make it trouble-free for your respondents to examine the options and to choose the best out of the options.

It additionally disposes of the longing to leave the questions clear and unanswered.

Step 1- The first step is to assign every reaction a point value, from 1 to 5, in light of the number of reactions.

Step 2- Normal qualities for the choices start with “strongly disagree” at 1 point and “strongly agree” at 5.

Step 3- Make a table for your outcomes and track down the Mode (number of times something happens) and the average reaction (Mean).

Step 4- The mode will let you know the most well-known reaction to every assertion while the mean will give you the general average reaction.

Likert surveys are generally very simple to create, easy to complete and provide very reliable data. It captures the diversity and complexity of people’s perspectives so you can better understand how people think and feel.

Be that as it may, the 5-point scale is a sanctuary for some analysts. It gets to the essence of the matter without exhausting or overpowering your respondents.

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