The Effect of Option Differences on Psychometric Properties of Items in Likert-Type Scales

Likert-type scales are often used in education and psychology. In Likert-type scales, response options/categories, like items, are expected not to direct individuals’ responses. Although the researchers themselves make decision on how to arrange categories during scale development, it is possible th...

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Main Authors: Meltem Yurtçu, Nuri Doğan, Ceylan Gündeğer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sakarya University 2023-09-01
Series:Sakarya University Journal of Education
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Online Access:https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/2963799
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author Meltem Yurtçu
Nuri Doğan
Ceylan Gündeğer
author_facet Meltem Yurtçu
Nuri Doğan
Ceylan Gündeğer
author_sort Meltem Yurtçu
collection DOAJ
description Likert-type scales are often used in education and psychology. In Likert-type scales, response options/categories, like items, are expected not to direct individuals’ responses. Although the researchers themselves make decision on how to arrange categories during scale development, it is possible that different categories reveal different response behaviors. In the literature, it has been observed that differentiations in the number of categories of forms are studied more, yet there are a limited number of studies investigating the middle category in the forms with different labels. Furthermore, it has also been observed that there are limited number of empirical studies conducted based on polytomous Item Response Theory. This study, which was conducted to close this gap in the literature, was carried out with 377 students. The options of the attitude scale were denominated with different labels, and thus four different forms were generated. Only the middle category names were changed in the first three forms, and in the fourth form, the categories were graded. The data obtained from the forms were analyzed using the Graded Response Model and the Generalized Partial Credit Model depending on Item Response Theory. After the examination of reliability of the forms, the parameters in these forms, and the relationships between the parameters according to both models, inferences were made as to how the differences of the middle category in the forms had an effect on the perceptions of individuals.
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spelling doaj-art-99bd7ffe2e114e1899e40d5734816f5c2025-08-20T03:10:46ZengSakarya UniversitySakarya University Journal of Education2146-74552023-09-0113220723710.19126/suje.125387628The Effect of Option Differences on Psychometric Properties of Items in Likert-Type ScalesMeltem Yurtçu0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3303-5093Nuri Doğan1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6274-2016Ceylan Gündeğer2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3572-1708INONU UNIVERSITYHACETTEPE UNIVERSITYAksaray ÜniversitesiLikert-type scales are often used in education and psychology. In Likert-type scales, response options/categories, like items, are expected not to direct individuals’ responses. Although the researchers themselves make decision on how to arrange categories during scale development, it is possible that different categories reveal different response behaviors. In the literature, it has been observed that differentiations in the number of categories of forms are studied more, yet there are a limited number of studies investigating the middle category in the forms with different labels. Furthermore, it has also been observed that there are limited number of empirical studies conducted based on polytomous Item Response Theory. This study, which was conducted to close this gap in the literature, was carried out with 377 students. The options of the attitude scale were denominated with different labels, and thus four different forms were generated. Only the middle category names were changed in the first three forms, and in the fourth form, the categories were graded. The data obtained from the forms were analyzed using the Graded Response Model and the Generalized Partial Credit Model depending on Item Response Theory. After the examination of reliability of the forms, the parameters in these forms, and the relationships between the parameters according to both models, inferences were made as to how the differences of the middle category in the forms had an effect on the perceptions of individuals.https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/2963799likert type scalesscale categoriesperceptionitem response theory modelslikert tipi ölçeklerölçek kategorilerialgımadde tepki kuramı modelleri
spellingShingle Meltem Yurtçu
Nuri Doğan
Ceylan Gündeğer
The Effect of Option Differences on Psychometric Properties of Items in Likert-Type Scales
Sakarya University Journal of Education
likert type scales
scale categories
perception
item response theory models
likert tipi ölçekler
ölçek kategorileri
algı
madde tepki kuramı modelleri
title The Effect of Option Differences on Psychometric Properties of Items in Likert-Type Scales
title_full The Effect of Option Differences on Psychometric Properties of Items in Likert-Type Scales
title_fullStr The Effect of Option Differences on Psychometric Properties of Items in Likert-Type Scales
title_full_unstemmed The Effect of Option Differences on Psychometric Properties of Items in Likert-Type Scales
title_short The Effect of Option Differences on Psychometric Properties of Items in Likert-Type Scales
title_sort effect of option differences on psychometric properties of items in likert type scales
topic likert type scales
scale categories
perception
item response theory models
likert tipi ölçekler
ölçek kategorileri
algı
madde tepki kuramı modelleri
url https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/2963799
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