Likert scale examples
A Likert scale example is an ordered set of answer labels attached to a statement. The standard five-point agreement scale runs from strongly disagree to strongly agree, with a neutral middle. Other common Likert scales use satisfaction, frequency or importance labels, and the right one depends on what the statement asks.
The labels, by what you are measuring
The label set has to match the statement. An agreement scale suits a statement about the respondent’s view. A frequency scale suits a statement about behaviour. A satisfaction scale suits an experience. Mixing them inside one block is the most common error, because the respondent has to re-read each statement to work out what the scale means.
| Scale | Labels (five points) | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Agreement | Strongly disagree, disagree, neither agree nor disagree, agree, strongly agree | “I know what is expected of me at work.” |
| Frequency | Never, rarely, sometimes, often, always | “I receive feedback from my manager.” |
| Satisfaction | Very dissatisfied, dissatisfied, neutral, satisfied, very satisfied | “How satisfied are you with the onboarding process?” |
| Importance | Not at all important, slightly, moderately, very, extremely important | “How important is flexible working to you?” |
| Likelihood | Very unlikely, unlikely, neutral, likely, very likely | “How likely are you to recommend us?” |
Jotform’s overview of Likert scale examples makes the same split: five points usually suffice for rating a product or service, while a seven-point scale is used when the respondent’s importance matters more, as in public opinion work.
Example statements, one idea each
- I understand how my work contributes to team goals.
- My manager recognises good work when they see it.
- I have the tools I need to finish my work on time.
- The training I received in my first month was useful.
Each of these is a single claim, so a respondent can agree with one and not the other. Compound statements such as “my manager and my team support me” produce answers that cannot be interpreted, which is the subject of the double barreled questions guide.
Scale length: the decision rule
Use five points when the answer is a general view and the respondent will answer many statements in a row. Use seven when the topic is one people have considered in detail, such as an opinion on a policy or the importance of a feature. Use an even number, four or six, only when a neutral answer would hide a view you need to know, for example whether a customer is likely to renew. Jotform describes the forced format as suited to surveys taken at the end of an interaction, where a view has usually formed.
Keep the neutral option labelled
Order matters
Keep the same direction across a block. If strongly agree is on the left for one statement and on the right for the next, people misread the scale. Jotform also notes that some research suggests response order can influence answers, particularly when the most positive option comes first, so keep one order for the whole survey.
A worked example: one block, three statements
A block about a new onboarding week needs one agreement scale and three statements, each making one claim:
- The first week gave me what I need to start on my own work.
- I know who to ask when I am stuck.
- The schedule was realistic for someone new to the team.
All three use the five agreement labels in the same order, strongly disagree on the left and strongly agree on the right. A respondent who agrees with the first and disagrees with the third can answer both, which tells you where the week worked and where it did not. If the third statement had been “The schedule and the mentoring were realistic and helpful,” the answer would have two claims in one.
Some survey designers mix a few negatively worded statements into a block to check that people are reading. Use this sparingly. A statement such as “I often feel unsure what to do next” reverses the direction of the scale, and the results have to be recoded before they are averaged. Do that recoding in your analysis, and label the reversed statements in the export so nobody averages them by mistake.
Check before you send
- Every statement in the block uses the same labels in the same direction.
- The middle option is labelled, and it means the same thing across the block.
- Each statement makes one claim.
- Any reversed statement is marked, so it is recoded before averaging.
Build it in Seagit Forms
Seagit Forms has a rating field, which shows stars, and a radio field that can carry any labels you write. For a Likert block, use radio questions: one statement per question, the same five labels on each. The feedback form template is a starting point for a general survey, and the Likert scale generator writes the label sets for you to paste in.
Sources
- Likert, R. (1932). “A technique for the measurement of attitudes.” Archives of Psychology, 22(140). Bibliographic details checked against a secondary record; the paper itself was not read.
- Jotform, “Likert scale survey questions and examples” (five- and seven-point use, forced scales, response order).
Common questions
- What is a Likert scale?
- A Likert scale is a set of ordered answer options, usually from one extreme to the other, used to measure how much someone agrees with a statement or how often something happens. The method is named after Likert, whose 1932 paper appeared in Archives of Psychology.
- How many points should a Likert scale have?
- Five is the common choice for agreement and satisfaction. Seven gives more room for importance and public opinion questions, where people hold graded views. Use an even number only when you need to force a direction, because the midpoint lets people avoid a view.
- Can Seagit Forms build a Likert scale?
- Yes, as radio questions. Each statement is its own question with the same labels, because Seagit Forms has no grid or matrix field. The star rating field is not a Likert scale.