Crafting a Liker Scale in Word: A Comprehensive Guide

Creating a Likert scale in Microsoft Word can be surprisingly straightforward, yet it's a task that often trips users up. This scale, named after Rensis Likert, is an usability-friendly tool for gathering opinions and respondent attitudes. Let's dive into the process, step by step, along with some troubleshooting tips.

How to Create a Likert Scale/Questionnaire in Word

Before we begin, ensure you have the latest Word version to benefit from these instructions. Now, shall we turn Word into a powerful survey tool?

a list of different types of microphones and their names on a white sheet with the words

Creating a Basic Likert Scale

Start by opening Microsoft Word and navigating to the document where you want to insert the Likert scale. Then, follow these steps:

Creating a Likert Scale with bubble answer options in Microsoft Word

1. Click on the 'Developer' tab, visible only in the 'Ribbon' options if you've added it. If not, here's how to enable it: Go to 'File' → 'Options' → 'Customize Ribbon', then check 'Developer' in the list.

2. In the 'Controls' group, click on the 'Legacy Tools' dropdown and select 'Design Form', then 'Open'. This action adds special form tools to Word.

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Adding Labels and Options

3. On the 'Form Tools' tab, click on the 'Text Form Field' icon (looks like a capital T) to add text blocks for your questions and options. Use the 'Move Up' and 'Move Down' buttons to arrange them.

4. For your likert scale question, add a text box and input something like "How satisfied are you with our services?" To keep it classic, let's choose a 5-point scale with options like: Very satisfied, Somewhat satisfied, Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, Somewhat dissatisfied, Very dissatisfied.

Customizable Likert Scale Templates for Surveys & Research.

Creating the Scale

5. Click on the ' ERASE BUtton' (it looks like a bin) in the 'Form Tools' tab to clear previously formed fields. Then, click the 'Numerical Form Field' icon (looks like a column of numbers) to add a new form field for your responses.

6. Click on the 'Design Mode' button and then click on the numerical field you just added. In the right-side document panel, under 'Properties', set the 'Maximum' value to 5 (for five points) and 'Minimum' value to 1. Set 'Free Form Text' to 'Yes' to enable your respondents to write an optional comment.

27 Free Likert Scale Templates & Examples [Word/Excel/PPT]

Advanced Customization

Now that you've created a basic Likert scale, it's time to give it some panache. Here's how to add visuals and tweak your scale.

the web site user survey is shown in red and black, with text below it

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h3>Adding Icons or Images

7. To add visual appeal to your scale, include icons or images next to your options. Simply click on 'Insert' and select 'Symbol' or 'Picture' dependent on your choice.

Changing Scale Length

8. To modify the length of your Likert scale, go back to the 'Properties' section, and adjust your 'Minimum' or 'Maximum' values. Then, manually add or remove the corresponding options in your text field.

Congratulations! You've just created a functional, professional-looking Likert scale to capture your respondents' opinions. Now, send out your survey and watch the insights roll in. If you plan to analyze responses, consider using Word's form data viewer or a survey-specific tool.