#5666. Using Only Numeric Labels Instead of Verbal Labels: Stripping Rating Scales to Their Bare Minimum in Web Surveys

August 2026publication date
Proposal available till 23-05-2025
4 total number of authors per manuscript0 $

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Journal’s subject area:
Social Sciences (all);
Law;
Library and Information Sciences;
Computer Science Applications;
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Abstract:
With the increasing use of smartphones in web surveys, considerable efforts have been devoted to reduce the amount of screen space taken up by questions. An emerging stream of research in this area is aimed at optimizing the design elements of rating scales. One suggestion that has been made is to completely abandon verbal labels and use only numeric labels instead. This approach deliberately shifts the task of scale interpretation to the respondents and reduces the information given to them with an intention to reduce their response burden while still preserving the scale meaning. Following prior research, and by drawing on the established model of the cognitive response process, we critically tested these assumptions.
Keywords:
attitude scales; data quality; paradata; response styles; satisficing; web surveys

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