PSYCH

PART 1

Read the attached article and answer the following questions –(MINIMUM 300 WORDS) • Why are ordinal (or Likert) scales typically the form of data collected when studying

human behavior within the fields of education, management, psychology, and related social and behavioral sciences?

• Describe the differences found when using a normal-curve (NC) transformation versus using Likert scales for the psychometric analysis of diversity measures with entrepreneurial teams.

• In the author's evaluation of three different reliability estimates (standard deviation, error variance, and unidimensionality), which was found to the preferred method and which was the least preferred? Why?

• Be sure to use scholarly references to back your assertions and cite!

PART 2 Responses needed for these 2 discussions (minimum 150 words for each discussion)

Discussion 1 Likert scales are very insignificant when it comes to studying human behavior in various fields like education, behavioral sciences, and psychology for different reasons. The scale is ordinal primarily because of its association with discrete values like 1,2 and 3, just to mention a few (Wu & Leung, 2017). The data collected in this case constitute continuous values in a given interval. It is important to mention that considering the Likert scale, interval value is never accepted. In the context of studying human behavior is critical to use the ordinal or Likert scale since the associated data resonate with the nature of humans' engagements. The attitudes and related opinions are highly critical sources of data that require an ordinal scale to collect. It follows that the objectivity of acquiring viable and feasibility information based on the discrete values is very high and significantly possible. Most of the respondents dealing with the Likert scale are capable of comprehending the implications of this psychometric scale holistically. Data collected from using the scale is very pragmatic and assists immensely in addressing views and opinions (Wu & Leung, 2017). The researchers apply this firm of scale to understand the underlying views and opinions from associated parties effectively. The Likert scale is a very important aspect of explicitly understanding the perspectives that human behavior can adopt. It remains critical to affirm that the scale is essential in acquiring data that is generally relevant. The scale types such as the Guttman scale, Thurstone scale, and Bogardus scale are essential and efficient in ensuring that the ultimate goal of collecting discrete data is met. Various questions are provided when using

the Likert scale that serves a major role in promoting authenticity and reliability in various dimensions. The differences that exist between using normal-curve (NC) transformation versus using Likert scales are very vivid and highly pragmatic since they are based on the provided facts. The NC transformation scale is associated with data that are closer or nearer to the underlying values in a situation where the normal curve assumption is upheld (Deng et al., 2015). Another key difference between the nominal curve transformation and the Likert scale is that the associated transformed data is usually less skewed considering their average value or on average. This is a very significant component and factor to consider since it can get utilized in situations where there is a need to measure various diversities. It follows that transformed data is relevant and essential when it comes to measuring different diversities, thereby giving the most reliable and effective outcome. In evaluating the three different reliability estimates that are standard deviation, error variance, and unidimensionality, the most effective and preferred method is the standard deviation. It Is important to mention that standard deviation provides an opportunity to engage in accurate and reliable estimations. The three diversity measures are supposed to embrace effectiveness in the application when it comes to statistical analysis. In this context, adopting an option that provides amicable results and operational excellence in various dimensions remains a very subjective step. Standard deviation is an alternative that is most preferred since it yields a highly efficient and accurate parameter estimate as oppose to other reliability estimates (Deng et al., 2015). On the other hand, the unidimensionality reliability estimates are least preferred following the nature of estimates that are associated with the same. This reliability estimate compared to the other counterpart options is the least and less reliable.

Discussion 2 An ordinal scale is a scale (of measurement) that uses labels to classify cases into ordered classes. Ordinal scale tests are often used in social science settings because of how they can measure behavioral attitudes by asking people to respond to a series of statements topics, in terms of the extent to which they agree or disagree that would tap into the test taker’s intellectual and emotional components of attitudes. Ordinal scales tests, such as the Likert tests, are easy to interpret once the data has been received, and it allows test-takers to provide opinions based on the statement’s description. Likert scales also offer anonymity on self- administered questions to reduce social pressure and desirability bias (McLeod, 2019). The limitation of the tests is the questions in place can have the tendency for the test takers to present themselves in a generally favorable fashion. An example would be if the test is measured based on discrimination; test-takers would lie because they do not want to be seen as bullies or racists. Lovler and Miller (2020) describe Normal Curves (NC) as a theoretical distribution that exists in our imagination as perfect and symmetrical, with the scores concentrated on the middle than

the tails. The psychometric analysis article describes those 117 individuals who took the diversity measurement tests, which is about 13 items to measure diversity. Researchers used 4 waves to distribute the tests, only to use the first wave tests because there were not many changes to the individuals’ answers from the other wave distribution. Researchers found that the sample skewness and the distribution curve provided a smaller critical value (Deng, et al., 2014). The Likert scale provided more marginal and well-fitted data by the one-factor model, which is easier to interpret to measure human characteristics. The article describes that the reliability estimates following the transformed data tend to be smaller than the Likert data (Deng, et al., 2014). Based on the descriptions provided, since NC’s tend to be on a hypothetical side and provide “perfect” scores, using the Likert scale can be realistic and provides reliability scores. The test takers can manipulate the Likert tests, but it provides a more measurement ability to convert or transform test scores in a meaningful unit (Lovler and Miller, 2020).