Likert Scale
Definition
A Likert scale is a rating scale used in surveys to measure attitudes, opinions, or perceptions. Respondents rate their level of agreement with a statement on a symmetric scale — commonly five or seven points ranging from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree.” It is one of the most widely used methods for quantifying subjective opinions.
Likert scale examples
A typical 5-point Likert scale captures degrees of agreement, satisfaction, or frequency.
- Agreement: Strongly disagree → Disagree → Neutral → Agree → Strongly agree.
- Satisfaction: Very dissatisfied → Dissatisfied → Neutral → Satisfied → Very satisfied.
- Frequency: Never → Rarely → Sometimes → Often → Always.
Best practices
Keep the scale symmetric and balanced, label every point clearly, and use a consistent scale length across related questions. Five and seven points are the most common because they balance nuance with simplicity.
Likert Scale FAQ
Five and seven points are most common. Five is simpler and faster; seven captures more nuance. Keep the scale symmetric with a neutral midpoint.
A Likert scale is a specific type of rating question that measures agreement on a symmetric, labeled scale. You can build Likert questions with the rating question type.