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A Guide to Key Decision Criteria for Likert‐Scale Use in Survey Research

Khan Md Raziuddin Taufique et al.

Global Business and Organizational Excellence2026https://doi.org/10.1002/joe.70032article
ABDC C
Weight
0.50

What the paper says

ABSTRACT Although widely used in survey research, the application of the Likert scale often lacks rigorous justification in relation to key methodological decisions. Furthermore, inconsistencies in terminology persist, for example, the common reference made to the “5‐point Likert scale,” even though debate is ongoing about the optimal number of response categories. Using a narrative review approach, this paper provides researchers with a concise, evidence‐based guide for the appropriate use of Likert‐type scales in survey research. Drawing on existing literature on itemized rating scales, particularly the Likert scale, the paper identifies the frequently overlooked critical decision criteria for anchoring the Likert scale. It clarifies essential considerations such as the number of scale points, inclusion of midpoints, labeling of response categories, and response format presentation. As a practical contribution, the paper offers evidence‐based guidelines to help researchers make informed decisions when employing Likert‐type rating scales in survey research.

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/joe.70032

Or copy a formatted citation

@article{khan2026,
  title        = {{A Guide to Key Decision Criteria for Likert‐Scale Use in Survey Research}},
  author       = {Khan Md Raziuddin Taufique et al.},
  journal      = {Global Business and Organizational Excellence},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/joe.70032},
}

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A Guide to Key Decision Criteria for Likert‐Scale Use in Survey Research

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Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.