Lab: Creating a scale

Task for lab Create a scale in small groups Have others complete the scale In the next lab, evaluate your scale

Step 1: Pick what you’ll measure Come up with a unidimensional construct to create a scale about Personality trait: Generosity, Shyness, Extraversion, etc. OR Attitude: Belief in climate change, Attitudes about a helmet law for cyclists, etc. Unidimensional: One specific construct NOT: attitudes toward UNI because that could be about the administration, sports teams, professors, etc. But maybe: Attitudes toward administration’s response to the Waka Flocka Flame concert Nothing illegal or overly personal (e.g., about sexual behaviors)

Step 2: Decide what response scale you’ll use 5-7 options Examples here: https://www.uc.edu/content/dam/uc/sas/docs/Assessment/likert- type%20response%20anchors.pdf Most common: Strongly disagree to strongly agree Never to always Not at all like me to very true ot me

Step 3: Come up with items Avoid double negatives: NOT: I rarely fail to go to class. INSTEAD: I usually go to class. Avoid double barrel (2 thoughts): NOT: I like camping and hiking. INSTEAD: I like to primitive tent camp in the woods. Avoid items with more than one meaning: NOT: I usually shower once a day. INSTEAD: I shower at least once a day.

Avoid items that have social desirability issues. Have some that are positively worded and some that if you agree, mean the opposite. I like to go to loud parties. I like to be alone most of the time. Avoid items that have social desirability issues. NOT: I would not help someone who was disabled. INSTEAD: Sometimes I feel uncomfortable when I see someone who has a physical disability.

Step 4: Narrow down your items Come up with 10-15 good and unambiguous items. Email your list with your response scale, names of group members, and the concept you are measuring to Christina at fortunac@uni.edu

Step 5: Collect data Christina will create an online survey with your items After she sends your group the link, try to get around 40 people to do your scale (40 total for the group) by Friday Make sure they are 18 or older We’ll also have people in the class do each other’s scales on Wednesday and Friday (watch for emails) Scales will include a place for a code that only you know (you make up) so that we can match answers anonymously across time