Quantification of Adverb Intensifiers for Use in Ratings of Acceptability,Adequacy,and Relative Goodness

Abstract

Survey designers often assume the existence of an underlying linear continuum with equal intervals between anchors when they create a scale. However, this is not necessarily the case when labels, such as “somewhat acceptable,” “completely acceptable”, etc. are assigned to these intervals. This study examines numeric ratings assigned by college students to adverb intensifiers.

Numeric ratings (from −5 to + 5) were collected from college males (n=54), college females (n=54) for positive and negative adverb-intensifiers of acceptability (n=50), adequacy (n=50), and relative goodness (n=41). Minimal differences were noted in mean ratings, variability, and order of the ratings assigned by males and females.

Three different scale development strategies were utilized to develop 54 adverb intensifier scales with intervals of 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11 descriptors for acceptability, adequacy, and relative goodness. Survey designers are invited to use these scales or the raw data to develop their own scales. Those who do so will have the advantage of using data based on a current college population.