Scale Construction Introduction

Scale construction
introduction
Definition of scale
use of scale in psychological assesment
type of scale – likert

thureston
guttman
semantic differential
steps in scale construction aLL detailed
construction of an attitude scale (likert)

defination of aatitude
STEPS
ITEM WRITING
ITEM ANALYSIS
NORMS
RELIABILITY
VALIDITY
Introduction:
Definition of Scale:
A scale in psychological assessment refers to a set of items or questions designed to

measure a particular construct or attribute, such as attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, or
personality traits.
Use of Scale in Psychological Assessment:
Scales are commonly used in psychological assessment to quantify abstract constructs

that are not directly observable. They provide a systematic way of measuring variables and
collecting data, allowing researchers and practitioners to make inferences about
individuals' characteristics or behaviors.
Types of Scales:
There are various types of scales used in psychological assessment. Some common types
include:
1. Likert Scale: A Likert scale is a type of rating scale that measures the degree of
agreement or disagreement with a statement. Respondents are typically asked to indicate
their level of agreement or disagreement on a numerical scale (e.g., strongly agree, agree,
neutral, disagree, strongly disagree).
2. Thurstone Scale: Thurstone scaling involves developing a set of statements that

represent different levels of a particular attribute. Respondents are asked to indicate
which statements they agree with, and these responses are used to calculate a score
representing the individual's position on the attribute being measured.
3. Guttman Scale: Guttman scaling, also known as cumulative scaling, involves
constructing a series of items that represent a continuum of attitudes or behaviors.
Respondents are asked to indicate whether they agree or disagree with each item, and
their responses are used to determine their position on the scale.
4. Semantic Differential Scale: A semantic differential scale measures the connotative

meaning of objects, events, or concepts. Respondents are asked to rate a series of bipolar
adjectives (e.g., good-bad, happy-sad) on a scale representing their perception of the
concept being measured.
Steps in Scale Construction:
1. Conceptualization: Clearly define the construct or attribute you want to measure and
develop a theoretical framework for understanding it.
2. Item Generation: Generate a pool of items or questions that are relevant to the
construct being measured. These items should cover a range of the construct's facets and
be clear and unambiguous.
3. Item Selection: Select a subset of items from the pool generated in step 2 based on
criteria such as item clarity, relevance, and representativeness of the construct.
4. Pilot Testing: Administer the selected items to a small sample of participants to

evaluate their clarity, comprehensibility, and appropriateness. Make any necessary
revisions based on feedback from pilot testing.
5. Scale Administration: Administer the finalized scale to a larger sample of participants

to collect data for analysis.
6. Item Analysis: Analyze the responses to each item to assess their psychometric
properties, such as item difficulty, discrimination, and internal consistency.
7. Scale Revision: Revise the scale as needed based on the results of item analysis and
feedback from scale administration.
8. Norming: Establish norms or reference points for interpreting scores on the scale,
such as percentile ranks or standard scores.
9. Reliability Assessment: Evaluate the reliability of the scale by assessing its internal
consistency (e.g., Cronbach's alpha) and test-retest reliability.
10. Validity Assessment: Evaluate the validity of the scale by examining its content
validity, criterion-related validity, and construct validity.
Now, let's focus on constructing an attitude scale using the Likert method.
Construction of an Attitude Scale (Likert):
Definition of Attitude:
An attitude is a psychological tendency that is expressed by evaluating a particular entity

with some degree of favor or disfavor. Attitudes can influence behavior, cognition, and
emotions.
Steps:
1. Item Writing: Generate a pool of statements that reflect different aspects of the
attitude you want to measure. Ensure that the statements are clear, concise, and cover
various dimensions of the attitude.
2. Item Analysis: Administer the items to a sample of participants and analyze their
responses. Calculate descriptive statistics for each item, such as mean and standard
deviation, to assess item difficulty and variability.
3. Norms: Establish norms for interpreting scores on the attitude scale, such as average
scores, percentile ranks, or standard deviations.
4. Reliability: Assess the reliability of the attitude scale by calculating internal

consistency measures, such as Cronbach's alpha, to ensure that the items are measuring
the same underlying construct consistently.
5. Validity: Evaluate the validity of the attitude scale by examining its content validity (the
extent to which the items represent the construct of interest), criterion-related validity (the
extent to which the scale predicts relevant outcomes), and construct validity (the extent to
which the scale measures the intended construct and relates to other relevant
constructs).

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Scale construction

type of scale – likert

steps in scale construction aLL detailed

construction of an attitude scale (likert)

A scale in psychological assessment refers to a set of items or questions designed to

Use of Scale in Psychological Assessment:

Scales are commonly used in psychological assessment to quantify abstract constructs

2. Thurstone Scale: Thurstone scaling involves developing a set of statements that

4. Semantic Differential Scale: A semantic differential scale measures the connotative

Steps in Scale Construction:

4. Pilot Testing: Administer the selected items to a small sample of participants to

5. Scale Administration: Administer the finalized scale to a larger sample of participants

Construction of an Attitude Scale (Likert):

An attitude is a psychological tendency that is expressed by evaluating a particular entity

4. Reliability: Assess the reliability of the attitude scale by calculating internal

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