Response formats

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In survey design, it is important to understand the different types of survey response formats and their implications in terms of levels of measurement for quantitative data analysis.

Some commonly used response formats include:


Measurement scale	Level of measurement	Example
Dichotomous	Binary	Yes or No
Graphical rating	Continuous	Mark any point on a line
Idiographic	Ordinal/Likert	Use symbols/pictures instead of words and numbers
Likert scale	Interval	Equally-spaced intervals, usually 3 to 9 intervals
Multiple choice or Multichotomous	Categorical/nominal	Yes, No, or Maybe
Multiple response	Binary	Tick all that apply
Ranking	Ordinal	Compare items to each other by placing them in order of descending preference
Semantic differential	Interval	Put two words at opposite ends of a scale with interval marks
Verbal frequency	Ordinal	How often ... Never, Sometimes, Often, Always

See also