What type of scale is a Likert scale classified as?

• A. Nominal Scale
• B. Ordinal Scale
• C. Interval Scale
• D. Summated Rating Scale

Answer: (D)

A Likert scale is classified as a summated rating scale, which means it is designed to measure attitudes or opinions by asking respondents to indicate their level of agreement or disagreement with a series of statements. The responses are typically on a fixed scale, often ranging from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree."

This type of scale allows for a more nuanced understanding of participants' feelings or attitudes since it captures the intensity of their responses. The summation of the scores from multiple statements can provide a composite score that reflects a respondent's overall position on a particular topic.

While it does have characteristics of ordinal data due to the ranking of responses, the true value of a Likert scale lies in how it's used to gauge varying degrees of opinion, making it distinctly recognized as a summated rating scale.