Spójność odpowiedzi na skalach dwubiegunowych o różnej liczbie kategorii

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of cognitive availability of measurement scales, based on the comparison of answers given by respondents to the very same question that is provided with scales having different number of categories. The measure of cognitive control over the scales presented to the respondent is inferred from consistence of his answers. The scale that is difficult to master will be known by the answers that are inconsistent with the ones given on other scales. First part of the article contains a formal definition of consistence and the way of constructing formula for the level of beyond-chance consistence of answers. In the second part I present the results of empirical research conducted in a group of students taking part in statistical analysis classes. The results initially confirm the hypothesis that increase in number of scale categories heightens the level of difficulty that a scale presents to the respondent.