When To Use Likert Scales
Likert scale questions measure attitudes, agreement, frequency, satisfaction, trust, and other ordered constructs. In Domandata, Likert-style batteries are usually built with Grid Matrix questions because each row can use the same response scale and export as a set of related variables.
Use a Likert-style battery when several statements share the same response options. If you only need one ordered rating, a single multiple choice question or slider may be easier for respondents and cleaner in export.
Block Builder: Grid Matrix (Likert)
Block Builder: Political Trust Battery
A Grid Matrix with institutions as rows and a trust scale as columns — each row exports as a separate variable.
Design The Scale
- Balance the options: pair positive and negative labels when measuring agreement or evaluation.
- Choose the midpoint deliberately: include a neutral option only when neutrality is a meaningful answer, not just a place for uncertainty.
- Keep direction consistent: make sure high values always mean more agreement, frequency, trust, or whatever construct the battery measures.
- Add numeric recodes: use ordered values such as 1 through 5 or 1 through 7 before publishing.
- Write one idea per row: avoid double-barreled statements that ask about two beliefs at once.
- Plan reverse-coded items: note them in the codebook instead of leaving the reversal implicit.
Configure In Domandata
Step 1: Open Block Builder. Open the survey and select the block where the scale battery belongs.
Step 1: Open Block Builder
Survey Editor
No-persist demo using the real builder shell.
Step 2: Add a Grid Matrix question. Likert-style batteries usually work best as a Grid Matrix because every row shares the same scale.
Step 2: Add Grid Matrix question
Block Builder: Question Type
Use the question type selector to switch between multiple choice, slider, grid, ranking, and more.
Step 3: Add statements as rows. Keep each row focused on one idea and avoid double-barreled statements.
Step 3: Add statement rows
Block Builder: Political Trust Battery
A Grid Matrix with institutions as rows and a trust scale as columns — each row exports as a separate variable.
Step 4: Add scale points as columns. Use the same ordered labels across the whole battery.
Step 4: Add scale point columns
Block Builder: Political Trust Battery
A Grid Matrix with institutions as rows and a trust scale as columns — each row exports as a separate variable.
Step 5: Set column recodes. Add numeric recodes before publishing so exports are analysis-ready.
Step 5: Set column recodes
Options: Grid / Matrix
Randomize row order, column order, or both independently to reduce order effects in repeated-measures batteries.
Step 6: Preview and export a test response. Check mobile layout in Preview, then confirm the export columns and recodes.
Step 6: Preview and export test
Block BuilderPreviewDeployPreview: Trust Battery
The 4-item trust_battery grid rendered in respondent view. On mobile, each institution row stacks as a separate question for usability.
Preview: Editor and Respondent Side by Side
Grid Matrix: Editor and Preview
See the row and column editor alongside the respondent-facing table.
Analysis Notes
Document whether high values represent more agreement, more of the construct, or the opposite. If you reverse-code any items, note that in your codebook rather than relying only on survey wording.
During pilot testing, check whether respondents treat the midpoint as true neutrality, uncertainty, or refusal. If that distinction matters, add a separate Prefer not to answer option or use a different question design.
Export: Data and Files
Export
Download analysis-ready response data from the Export tab.