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Likert Scales: A Practical Guide to Design, Construction and Use
Pere J Ferrando1, Fabia Morales-Vives1, José M Casas1
1Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Departament de Psicologia, Research Center for Behavior Assessment (Spain).
Psicothema
|November 4, 2025
Summary
This study reviews Likert-type scales, identifying key areas for improvement in their construction and application. It proposes practical guidelines to optimize the use of these widely applied assessment tools in research.
Area of Science:
- Psychometrics
- Survey Methodology
- Statistical Analysis
Background:
- Likert-type scales, developed in 1932, are widely used assessment tools in various scientific and professional fields.
- Their simplicity and effectiveness have led to broad adoption.
- However, their optimal construction, analysis, and application require critical review.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically review the current use of Likert-type scales.
- To propose practical guidelines for optimizing the design, analysis, and application of Likert scales.
- To enhance the reliability and validity of data collected using these scales.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature review was conducted.
- The review focused on existing guidelines for the development, analysis, scoring, use, and interpretation of Likert scales.
- This approach synthesized current best practices and identified areas for improvement.
Main Results:
- Identified critical areas for enhancing Likert scale construction and usage.
- Key areas include operational definition of constructs, item formulation, and response category selection.
- Improvements are also needed in response analysis, validity evidence collection, item calibration, and score interpretation.
Conclusions:
- A practical guide with fifteen recommendations is proposed.
- Ten recommendations focus on the appropriate design, construction, and analysis of Likert scales.
- Five recommendations guide the appropriate use of pre-existing Likert scales by researchers and practitioners.
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