conversion from visual analog scale to 7-point likert scale

[safig]

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if anyone could help: what would be the reasons/advantages for converting responses from a questionnaire that were done on a "Visual analog scale" to a "7-point likert" scale?

Many thanks

[Blaz]

Why would you want to do that?

[terzi]

Hi,

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the "visual analog scale", so I wouldn't be able to help you. Nevertheless, there are certain advantages of a likert scale that may interest you.

* It is easier to apply it in surveys.
* It is easier to understand the results.
* When there are enough categories (7 would be enough) you can treat your data as continuous for some statistical analysis and the assumptions may be met.

Those are some of the reasons why it is commonly used, specially the third one.

[Blaz]

Originally Posted by terzi

Hi,

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the "visual analog scale", so I wouldn't be able to help you. Nevertheless, there are certain advantages of a likert scale that may interest you.

* It is easier to apply it in surveys.
* It is easier to understand the results.
* When there are enough categories (7 would be enough) you can treat your data as continuous for some statistical analysis and the assumptions may be met.

Those are some of the reasons why it is commonly used, specially the third one.

Visual analog scale is basically a line on which participants have to make their mark with regard to some stimulus when both of the extreme points are named. For example:

Agree_____________________________________________ ___Disagree

And participants can make a tick wherever they want. I agree with what you said, but visual analog scale is by definition continuous, and as such provides results suitable for any kind of analysis. The problem is that scoring can be rather tedious (you literally take a ruler and measure distance), and it relies more heavily than Likert on the "personal equation", meaning it's more subjective.

@The original poster, what I wanted to say is that both scales have peculiarities, and slightly different workings meaning that I'm not certain you even are allowed to convert responses.