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This project deals with the psychometric properties of verbal scale point labels (VSPL) used in rating scales, looking at 5 VSPL types, i.e., words/expressions for Frequency (e.g.: often, rarely), Intensity (e.g., very, quite), Probability (e.g., certain, unlikely), Quality (e.g., good, poor), Response to statements (e.g., agree, disagree).
SUB STUDIES:
<A> Category scale rating of 5x20=100 VSPLs in various contexts;
<B> Comparison of category and magnitude scaling outcomes;
<C> Cross-national extension (currently underway).
The category scaling tasks included allocation of words to numbers (WN) and numbers to words (NW); the magnitude estimations were based on two modalities, numbers (MN) and lines (ML). The VSPLs were presented in 3 different contexts: as expressions of Noise annoyance <N> or Job satisfaction <J> or context-free <C> .
For a project report focussed on the data collection in substudies <A> and <B>, conducted in Australia, click vqs-report. To see selected results which are relevant for the construction of 5-point scales, based on task "NW", click vqs-dat.
The results will be utilized for the construction of improved response scales for questionnaires/survey research. The core aim of the project is to facilitate the development of scales which maximize data quality as well as communicative virtues.
= Current agenda =
Detailed results from studies [A] and [B] were submitted for
publication in 2009.
Selected pretest findings applied to noise annoyance research can be
found in
Rohrmann,
B. (1998), "The use of verbal labels in noise annoyance scales";
in:
Carter, N. (Ed.), Noise as a public health problem, Sydney: Noise
Effects.
'98, 523-527.
The first section of Study [C] was focused on a Chinese~English
comparison of verbal scale
point labels, in collaboration with Prof. Au and Prof. Taylor from the
Chinese University of HongKong (data collection in 2005). For a report
about the HongKong experiments and findings click vqh-report. A detailed journal
article,"Developing equivalent Chinese and
English scale point labels for rating scales used in survey research"
by W. Au, B. Rohrmann & P. Taylor
A
further German or German/English study is under consideration, in
collaboration
with
psychologists
from the University of Bochum, Germany. This appears to be important,
because the author's first "VQS" study, investigating German verbal
scale
point labels, published in 1978 (and still cited), obviously deserves a
replication.
= Contact address =
Prof. Bernd ROHRMANN, via
Roman Research Road venture, Melbourne, Victoria 3054,
AUSTRALIA
Phone: +61 3 93479966, E-Mail: mail@rohrmannresearch.net
WebSite: http://www.rohrmannresearch.net
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