Hi All!
Having analyzed /administered numerous psycho-educational questionnaires, I've noticed that the scales on certain questions was reversed in my recent travels. For example, a scale for the questions:
"I'm happy most of the time", "I feel my peers hold my work in high regard", etc...
Would read:
Strongly Agree - Strongly Disagree
However, questions:
"I feel sad most of the time", "I feel as though people are often critical of my work", etc...
The direction of the rating scale would be:
Strongly Disagree - Strongly Agree
I'm just wondering if there is any benefit to reversing the scale (aside from positive questions matching positive-negative directional scales, and vice versa). I know there is quite a bit of debate surrounding this topic, but thought I would reach out for insight of fellow researchers to get your thoughts on why a scale wouldn't remain consistent.
Thank you!
Darko
Hello,
Maybe it is to make the respondent think about each statement rather than running through and answering each in the same way that he/she has been answering previously. Sometimes there are two responses that are similar in meaning but are phrased differently, or one is written positively and the same concept is then worded negatively, so that the respondent - perhaps - agrees with the positive one and disagrees with the negative one.
It will be interesting to read what other RG members think.
Very best wishes,
Mary
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