Direct Magnitude Estimation Scales in Public Opinion Surveys

In: Public opinion quarterly: journal of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, Band 44, Heft 3, S. 377-384

Abstract

Direct magnitude estimation scales, patterned after S. S. Stevens's work in psychophysics ('A Metric for the Social Consenses,' Science, 1966, 151, 530-541; Psychophysics and Social Scaling, Morristown, NJ: General Learning Press, 1972) offer an approach to measurement of opinions & attitudes. These scales are utilized for 3 telephone interview surveys conducted with registered voters (number of cases = 226, 431, & 376) in Santa Clara County, Calif. It is found possible to use these scales successfully in surveys of this type; reliability, predictive validity, & construct validity are good, though construct validity is not directly tested. 1 Figure. Modified HA.