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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, 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 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). A
report about the HongKong findings is available on request; it will be
placed on this website in 2010. A detailed journal article has been
submitted in late 2009.
A
further German/English study is under consideration, in collaboration
with
psychologists
from the University of Bochum, Germany.
= Contact address =
Professor Bernd ROHRMANN, via
Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010,
AUSTRALIA
Phone: +61 3 93479966 E-Mail: mail@rohrmannresearch.net
WebSite: http://www.rohrmannresearch.net
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