ERIC Number: EJ992004
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Dec
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1040-3590
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Relationship between Perceived and Actual Frequency Represented by Common Rating Scale Labels
Woltz, Dan J.; Gardner, Michael K.; Kircher, John C.; Burrow-Sanchez, Jason J.
Psychological Assessment, v24 n4 p995-1007 Dec 2012
Two experiments investigated the relationship between subjective interpretation of frequency terms and corresponding objective values. Evidence supported the existence of a nonlinear relationship that is well described by a logarithmic function. The general form of this relationship was consistent across different methods of eliciting subjective frequency estimates and different frequency response scales. These findings, in combination with prior research, suggest that individuals can be highly accurate in reporting the frequency of prior experiences but that subjective reports using common frequency response scales and scoring methods should not be taken to reflect equal intervals of actual frequency. This bears similarity to psychophysical relationships observed between sensation and stimulus intensity, and it has implications for the interpretation and analysis of self-report measures that use Likert-type frequency response scales. (Contains 2 tables, 2 figures and 4 footnotes.)
Descriptors: Evidence, Rating Scales, Acoustics, Scoring, Intervals, Experiments, Likert Scales, Stimuli, Item Response Theory, Scores, Psycholinguistics, Undergraduate Students, College Students, Higher Education, Comparative Analysis, Evaluation
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org/publications
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
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