Effects of variations in rating scale format on judgment

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether mean occupation evaluation ratings would differ as a function of 7 variations in rating-scale format. 60 basic airmen rated 15 occupations on 9 occupation-requirement factors for each format. A 3-way analysis of variance (occupations, factors, scale format) resulted in statistically significant terms for each of the main effects and for all 4 interaction terms. It was concluded that rating-scale format was a determiner of the judgment of raters in this sample and that selection of an optimal format should be based upon capability to predict a criterion. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)