Process
How to build a branching rating question
Direction first, then strength, for bipolar items like workload and pace
A four-step process for writing a branching, or unfolding, rating question for bipolar items such as workload or pace in a course evaluation. It follows the design that Malhotra, Krosnick and Thomas found most valid: branch the endpoints into three levels of strength, leave the midpoint unbranched, and score on seven points. Useful for survey designers and quality teams, especially for questions asked aloud. In Koji you can set up a direction question with a follow-up on strength.
What's in this process
- Ask the direction: Too light, about right or too heavy? Start with the side, not the strength.
- Ask strength only if they chose a side: Extremely, moderately or slightly. Three levels on each side.
- Leave the midpoint alone: Take about right at face value. Asking which way they lean added no validity.
- Combine into seven points: Three levels per side plus the midpoint gives a seven-point bipolar score.
Use this image
Free to use in your docs, decks and posts under CC BY 4.0, as long as you credit Koji with a link to this page. To embed it, paste this into your page:
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<a href="https://www.koji.so/visuals/branching-rating-question-direction-then-strength"><img src="https://www.koji.so/visuals/branching-rating-question-direction-then-strength/branching-rating-question-direction-then-strength.png" alt="Process for a branching rating question: ask direction, ask strength only if a side was chosen, leave the midpoint alone, score on seven points." width="1200" height="630" /></a>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.koji.so/visuals/branching-rating-question-direction-then-strength">How to build a branching rating question</a>, Koji</p>
