Definition

An attitude scale is a method of assessing attitudes that are based on the idea that possessing an attitude results in consistency when responding to specific individuals or circumstances.  Therefore, verbal assertions concerning the attitude object of interest are presented on an attitude scale. 

There are several ways to build these scales, depending on whether they are based on the subjective evaluation of numerous people, the objective evaluation of statements by “judges,” or the study of reaction patterns.

Explanation

Attitude scales are employed in various sectors of social research, even though they are more significant in psychology because it is typical to seek personality traits that are mainly free of context (such as dogmatism or authoritarianism). Questions are intended to evaluate how strongly someone feels on either side, not merely whether they are for or against something. The degree to which answers to attitude scales form single clusters is currently evaluated using sophisticated statistical techniques.

By summing the numerical scores that researchers assigned to people’s replies to sets of statements examining various facets of an underlying subject, attitude scales provide a quantitative method for evaluating attitudes, views, or values.

Typically, attitude scales include several statements that reflect various perspectives on a particular topic. Each of these assertions, which vary in strength from the very positive to the strongly negative, is given a number, or “scale value,” that reflects where it lies on the continuum.

Questions are intended to assess how strongly someone feels on either side, not merely whether they are for or against something. The degree to which answers to attitude scales form single clusters is currently evaluated using sophisticated statistical techniques.

Example

The questioner asks whether unfettered immigration is better or worse, and the answer expresses their level of agreement or disagreement with the proposition.