How Many Points Should be on a Likert Scale?

Geek — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:55:27 +0000

Resolutions are fun, you should get some! This year, I resolved to produce some Metrics Geek Podcasts. Mostly these are my ramblings on various learning measurement topics (at least for now *cue ominous music*)

Metrics Geek Podcast.(8:15) Fewer than 10 minutes and you’ll be a Likert scale expert!

Likert Scales

Pave the path you’re walking

Geek — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:41:29 +0000

I’ve said before that design and measurement can’t be separated. The right measurement of anything (training, a coffee cup, this keyboard I’m typing on) is the degree that it does what it’s supposed to do; in other words, what it was designed to do. Assuming that design is about matching the characteristics of a product (training, coffee cup…you get the idea here) to the specific needs of the users of that product, then the needs of those users, as expressed in the design, become the measurement criteria.

Gracious that was mumbo-jumboish. Check out this guy’s photographic description of the difference between the paved paths at UC Berkeley and the dirt paths that people are already walking. His point, excellently illustrated, is that either the campus designers didn’t determine the needs of the population, or the population needs changed. Either way, the paths they paved are in some cases, not the ones the students are walking. The author calls out the university’s solution (a barrier that people keep walking around) as futile and shows ominous pictures of other paths starting to form in the grass.

The point here is obvious. Do you try to force people (users) to the design of your product, or do you try to match your design to their needs. As illustrated by the dirt paths intersecting in different directions from the paved ones, users will find what they want, even if your design attempts to thwart them.

So then you may be thinking “Why should I care, Geek?”

Well I’m glad you asked. In short: beware designing something without spending time analyzing the existing patterns and desires of your target audience otherwise that audience will get its needs met elsewhere.

~Geek~

Metrics Geek » Design

How Many Points Should be on a Likert Scale?

Pave the path you’re walking