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The reliability of parametric methods in the case of rating scales: a simulation study
  • Harald Kindermann
Harald Kindermann
FH Oberosterreich Fakultat fur Management

Corresponding Author:harald.kindermann@fh-steyr.at

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Abstract

A recurring question is whether rating scales should be considered metrically scaled or merely ordinally scaled. This has direct implications for the permissible statistical procedures for significance testing. Based on the results of a simulation study, it is shown that the use of parametric procedures for rating scales has distinct advantages over the non-parametric alternatives. It is also shown that the parametric procedures are robust to violations of the assumption of normality, which only result in a modest loss of power compared with continuous variables. This loss should be taken into account when calculating the optimal sample size. The results suggest that sample sizes about 25% larger should be chosen for discrete rating scales than for continuous variables.
24 May 2023Submitted to Applied Research
24 May 2023Submission Checks Completed
24 May 2023Assigned to Editor
06 Jun 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
29 Aug 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
29 Aug 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
02 Sep 20231st Revision Received
02 Sep 2023Submission Checks Completed
02 Sep 2023Assigned to Editor
04 Sep 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
18 Sep 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
18 Sep 2023Editorial Decision: Accept