Dependability of anchoring labels of Likert-type scales

Generalizability theory was used to examine the dependability of anchoring labels of Likert-type scales. Variance components associated with labeling were estimated in two samples using a two-facet, random effects g-study design. In one sample, 173 graduate students in education were administered seven items measuring attitudes toward quantitative methodology. The other sample consisted of 108 graduate students in education who responded to the eight-item Life Orientation Test. From both samples, variance components associated with labeling were found to be minute, contributing little to the observed score variance. One plausible explanation was that respondents could primarily be using the numerical information in rating a Likert-type scale.