The Importance of Motivation and a Discussion of the Motivational Theories by Douglas McGregor, Frederick Herzberg, Abraham Maslow, Elton Mayo, Chris Argyris, Rensis Likert, and David McClelland
A Likert scale is a type of survey response scale widely used in market research, psychology, and other social sciences It is named after the psychologist Rensis Likert, who developed the technique in 1932. This scale is used to measure the attitude of respondents to a particular statement or question. It is made up of a series of statements, questions, or items that a respondent can agree or disagree with, with the responses ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree.
Example 1: Measuring the Impact of Social Media on Communication Among Friends
This topic looks at the effects of the increasing presence of social media on communication between friends. Do people communicate less face-to-face because of their increased reliance on virtual networks, or has the availability of social media networks enabled them to communicate more with their friends? Questions may range from ‘I communicate more with my friends because of social media’ to ‘Social media networks make me feel disconnected from my friends’.
Example 2: Examining Attitudes Towards Online Shopping
This topic looks at how individuals view online shopping. Does online shopping make life easier, or does the security risk of having sensitive data online outweigh the advantages? Questions may range from ‘Online shopping is the most convenient way to buy things’ to ‘I prefer to buy things in-person rather than online’.
Example 3: Exploring Public Opinion on Climate Change
This topic looks at public opinion on climate change. How aware are people of the current situation and its implications on the planet, and what are their views on the responsibility of individuals and governments in addressing the problem? Questions may range from ‘Climate change is a real and urgent problem’ to ‘It’s too late to make a difference’.
Example 4: Gauging Attitudes to Controversial Political Issues
This topic looks at public opinion on current political issues. Do people feel that their opinions are being heard and acted on by their government, or do they feel powerless to do anything? Questions may range from ‘The government should be more open to public opinion when making decisions’ to ‘Politicians do not care about the people’s opinion’.
Example 5: Investigating Attitudes Towards Immigration
This topic looks at how people feel about immigration. Do people view immigration positively or negatively, and do they believe that immigration policies should be open or restrictive? Questions may range from ‘Immigrants should not be allowed to stay in the country’ to ‘Immigrants should be welcomed in the country’.