Agriculture Reference
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the measurements taken on abstract concepts
to bring to one into unison. Moreover, while
measuring the attitudes or opinions, the problem
of valid measurement comes into play. Scaling
technique has come to rescue such problem.
Scaling is a technique by which one attempts to
determine quantitative measures for subjective or
abstract concepts. Thus, by scaling, we mean
assigning numbers to various subjective/abstract
concepts like degree of opinion and attitude. The
whole process of scaling is based on one or more
of the following bases: (a)
social and business studies. In a rating scale
technique, responses about the characteristics of
a particular object are judged without any refer-
ence to other similar objects. The objects may be
judged good, fair, better, best, etc., or average,
below average, above average, and so on. The
problem with this type of scaling is that nobody
knows how far the two objects differ with a
particular characteristic rated as fair and better
or better and best. Another interesting feature of
this type of scaling is the questions, how many
points are to be provided in a scaling technique?
Is it a two-point, three-point, four-point,
subject orientations
,
(b)
response form
, (c)
degree of subjectivity
, (d)
, scal-
ing? As we go on increasing the number of points
in a scaling technique, sensitivity increases but
more and more difficulty arises in differentiating
the object of two consecutive rates; compromis-
ing three- to seven-point scales is generally used
for all practical purposes. Rating scales are again
subdivided into graphic rating scale or itemized
rating score (numeric scale). In a graphic rating
scale, the respondents are allowed to select one out
of the different alternatives. On the other hand, in
an itemized rating scale, respondents come across
a with series of statements relating to the feature of
the objects and selects one which they find suitable
or best reflect the characteristics of the objects.
Thus, in the previous case, there might be a differ-
ence in the level of understanding of the
respondents and the researcher who have devel-
oped different points in graphic rating scales.
On the other hand, the merit of an itemized rating
scale is that more and more information is
provided to the respondent, thereby increasing
his/her confidence on the features of the objects
and ultimately judging these objects efficiently.
Ranking scales are mostly based on compara-
tive basis. In this type of scaling technique,
respondents are required to compare either
pairwise comparison taking two objects at a
time, ranking several objects in order, or placing
the objects into different groups developed fol-
lowing interval scales. Based on the methods
used, the ranking scales are used in three
approaches: (a)
...
scale properties
, (e)
dimensionality
, and (f)
scale
construction technique
. In a subject orientation, a
scale is designed to measure the characteristics of
respondents on a particular stimulus presented to
the respondents. This can be done by allowing the
respondent to go through the stimulus thoroughly
and grade it, or it can also be done by asking the
respondent to judge the stimulus on various
dimensions. In a response form, responses are
categorized into different scales: they may be a
rating scale or a ranking scale. In a rating scale,
the respondent rates a stimulus without having any
direct reference to other stimuli; comparison
among stimuli is absent. On the other hand, in a
ranking scale, different stimuli are ranked 1, 2, 3
,
etc., by the respondent. Scales may be based on
subjectivity (preferential or non-preferential) of the
respondent concerned. As discussed in the scales of
measurement, scales may be developed on the basis
of the nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio nature. A
ratio scale is the most important scale which
possesses all the properties of the other three
scales, along with a unique origin
...
. Scales may be
developed as unidimensional or multidimensional.
In a unidimensional scale, only one attribute could
be measured, but in multidimensional scales,
objects maybe categorized/indexed based on multi-
ple attributes—multivariate analysis.
5.3.1 Scaling Technique
method of pair comparison
, (b)
As it has already been mentioned, rating and
ranking scaling techniques are mostly used in
method of rank order
, and (c)
method of succes-
sive intervals
. In method of pair comparison, a
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