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Differential Scale

The document discusses two types of scales used to measure social attitudes: differential scales and summated scales. Differential scales use judges to classify statements into groups from most unfavorable to most favorable, while summated scales use a Likert scale to assess agreement with favorable or unfavorable statements. The Likert scale is considered easier to construct and more informative than differential scales, though it may not scientifically order attitudes. Cumulative and social distance scales are also discussed as ways to measure attitudes toward social groups.

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Gayatri Mudliyar
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2K views

Differential Scale

The document discusses two types of scales used to measure social attitudes: differential scales and summated scales. Differential scales use judges to classify statements into groups from most unfavorable to most favorable, while summated scales use a Likert scale to assess agreement with favorable or unfavorable statements. The Likert scale is considered easier to construct and more informative than differential scales, though it may not scientifically order attitudes. Cumulative and social distance scales are also discussed as ways to measure attitudes toward social groups.

Uploaded by

Gayatri Mudliyar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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 DIFFERENTIAL SCALE:

These scales are used to measure the social phenomenon.

The researcher will collect varied number of statements related to attitudes. Judges
Will determine the positions on the scale. The position is determined by the method
of equal appearing intervals. Judges will work independently to classify these
statements into 11 groups.

1st group—Unfavorable statements specified issue (score-11)


2nd group—The next unfavorable statements AND so on.
11th group—Favorable statements (score-1)
6th group—The point at which the attitude neutral.

The scale value of a statement is computed as the 'mean' or 'median' position


to which it is assigned by the judges.
 Avoid ambiguous, vague & irrelevant statements.
 The evaluated statements that spread out evenly from one extreme to
the other.

At the same time of administration of the scale questionnaire, the respondents are
asked to check the statements with which they agree. The scale values are not
shown in the questionnaire and the statements are arranged randomly. The mean
or median of the scale values of the items are checked by respondent indicates his
position in the scale.

A series of statements whose positions have been determined neutrally by the


judges.

 The scattered responses of an individual imply that the respondent has no


definite and organized attitude towards the phenomenon.

PAREKH ARPITA J. F.Y.M.SC.NSG (2010-2012)


 SUMMATED SCALE:
To measure the social attitude Likert type scale IS used. It uses only the definitely
favorable and unfavorable statements. It excludes intermediate opinions. It
consists of a series of statement to which the respondent is to react. The
respondent indicates the degree of agreement disagreement. Each response is
given a numerical score and the total score of a respondent resent is found out by
summing up his different for different purposes. This total score of as his position
on the continuum.

The Likert scale uses several degrees of agreernent or disagreement, e.g:


Strongly approve, approve undecided, disapprove, and strongly disapprove.
These five points will constitute the scale. Each point of the scale carries a score.
"Strongly approve" is given the score (5 or +2) and "Strongly disapprove" is
given the least score (1 or -2). Points will have the scores accordingly
(i.e., 5,4,3.2, and 1 ).

E.g: Statement 1: Prohibition should be made compulsory.


1 2 3 4 5

Strongly Approve Undecided Disapprove Strongly


Approve Disapprove.

The Method of Construction of a Likert Type Scale

• The researcher gathers a large number of statements which clearly indicate


favorable or unfavorable attitude towards the issue in question.

• The questionnaires consisting of the above five points with respect to a


statement are administered to the respondents who indicate their responses.

• The responses will imply various scores. The scores are consistently arranged
either from the highest to the lowest, or from the lowest to the highest.

• By adding up the different scores of an individual, his total score is calculated


(i.e., summation of different scores for different statements).

PAREKH ARPITA J. F.Y.M.SC.NSG (2010-2012)


• The researcher should identify the items, which have a high discriminatory
power.
The responses are interpreted to determine which of the statements discriminate
very clearly between high scores and low scores on the total scale. It has to be
ensured that the questionnaire is consistent. To achieve this, the items with low
discriminatory power those having no significant correlation with the total score
are eliminated.

Advantages of Likert Scale over the Thurstone Scale

a) The method of construction of Likert type scale is less cumbersome.


b) It supplies more precise and definite response towards an issue. The
intermediate vague points are absent in this scale.
c) The Likert scale permits the revelation of several (five) degrees of agreement or
disagreement; but Thurstone scale is based on only two alternative responses,
i.e. acceptance or rejection. Thus, Likert scale is more informative and reliable
than the Thurstone scale.
d) In a Likert type scale, any item or statement empirically consistent with the
statement may be included. In Thurstone scale, only the strictly related items are
included. Thus, Likert type scale has a broader area of reference and has also a
method of checking internal consistency which is conspicuous by its absence in
Thurstone scale.

Defects in Likert Type Scale

1. The judgment on the basis of total score, which is estimated by calculating the
mean or median, is not scientific. The total score values may be the same in many
cases, but the attitudes may be different towards an issue.
2. The scores on the Likert type scale may be helpful for making an ordering of the
people, but such an ordering will not have any scientific and objective basis.
3. There is no objective basis for expressing different degrees of agreement or
disagreement. However, despite some limitations, it remains an important
ordinal scale.
4. Cumulative scale/Bogardus social distance scale.

In the cumulative scale, a respondent is given a number of questions, to express


agreement or disagreement over an issue. The items are arranged in such a way
that a respondent who responds favourably to item number 2 also replies

PAREKH ARPITA J. F.Y.M.SC.NSG (2010-2012)


favourably to item number 1 and one who relies favourably to item number 3 also
replies favourably to items 1 and 2, and so on.

Therefore, the individuals who answer favourably have higher total score than
those who answer unfavourably. The score of an individual is computed by
counting the number of items he answers favourably. His scores indicate for him a
particular position on the scale. The intervals between the positions may not be
equal. The items may be arranged from favourableness to unfavourableness in a
systematic manner or may be randomly selected.

The purpose of social distance scale is to measure the attitude towards a


particular racial group or groups. The Bogardus type scale is given below:

Relationship i would accept. English Negro French Chinese

1 Marriage 1 1 1 1

2 Friendship 2 2 2 2
3 Neighbor 3 3 3 3
4 Employment in same occupation 4 4 4 4

5 Citizenship in my country 5 5 5 5

6 Visitors to my country 6 6 6 6

7 Exclusion from my country 7 7 7 7

The respondent is to circle each of the seven categories to which he is willing to


accept particular group. The respondent's first feeling reactions can be known by
this. For a group, if a respondent circles 3, he is also expected to circle 4 and 5 for
the same group. If a respond dose not circle 3, he will most probably not circle 1,
and 2, for these indicate even closer relationship (for the same group). The seven
categories indicate a gradually increasing social distance
The social distance can also be calculated mathematically. In order to do this,
weights are attached to different categories of relationship. Thus,
If there are only five categories, the weights such as 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 can be
assigned to the first five categories respectively.

PAREKH ARPITA J. F.Y.M.SC.NSG (2010-2012)


The following procedure is generally adopted for the measurement of social
distance:
1. Place the weights and percentage responses for each category in rows.
2. Multiply the percentage response by its weight.
3. Add up the product, and this will be social distance.
In the Bogardus type scale, the score not indicate the exact extent or degree of
preference of a group over the other. One important difficulty in this type of scale
is that one may not be fully acquainted with a group and hence it is not possible for
him to state the attitude. The influence of an individual or members may not be
eliminated while making preferences.

 Bibliography:
 Books:
1. Bastable Susan B., “Nurse as educator- principles of teaching and learning for
nurses practice”; 3rd edition, Jones and Bartlett publication, Boston. Pp: 580.

2. Basvanthappa B. T., “Nursing Education”;2nd edition; Jaypee Brothers publication;


New Delhi; Pp:470.

3. Neeraja K.P., “Textbook of Nursing Education”; 1st edition, reprint-2009; Jaypee


brother’s publication, New Delhi. Pp: 432-435.
 Websites:

www.http//-differential scale-education.com

www.shiksha.com/getArticleDetail/430/summatedscale

webindia123.com/scales/utilization/nurse/.htmL

PAREKH ARPITA J. F.Y.M.SC.NSG (2010-2012)

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