Define Rating Scale and it’s characteristics
by Yuvi - June 19, 2021
Rating Scale and it’s characteristics
Definition of rating scale
As per Gibson & Mitchelle – “Rating scales are for rating each of the characteristics or activities one is seeking to observe or assess.”
As per Bonny and Hampleman – “A rating scale is a special kind of checklist in which the items or characteristics checked must be rated quantitatively or qualitatively according to the degree of presence or absence of a trait, the degree of perfection of a skill or a degree of completion of a task.”
Characteristics of rating scale
- Rating scale is the judgement of one person by another
- It is a directed observation
- It is opinion of some object, situation or character
- It systemizes the expression of opinion concerning a trait.
- A systematic procedure for obtaining, recording and reporting observer’s judgements.
- It is a subjective method through which we can find out opinions about a particular person.
- Similar to a Check List but with finer discriminations.
- It may be filled during or immediately after or much later after the observation is made.
- Ratings are done by parents, guardians, teachers, students themselves, friends, a board of interviewers, judges, and by the self as well.
Types of rating
- Descriptive Rating – The characteristics or traits or qualities are described in words or phrases. The Rater puts a tick in the blank or bracket in front of the quality.
Eg. English Teaching –
I can’t understand ( )
It is difficult to understand ( )
Clearly understood ( )
- Numerical Rating – Numbers assigned to each trait.
Eg. I like to co-operate –
0 – For Never
1 – Sometimes
2 – Rarely
3 – Often
4 – Always
- Graphical Rating – Similar to descriptive scale and the difference lies only in the way it is written.
Eg. Responsibility for completing work
Very High– High — Average– Low– Very Low
- %age of group scaling – Rater is asked to give the % of the group that possesses the trait on which the individual is rated.
Eg. Self-confidence of the individual
1 to 10 %
11 to 25%
26 to 50%
51 to 75%
76 to 100%
Advantages of rating scale
- Helpful in writing reports to parents.
- Helpful in filling out admission blanks for colleges.
- Helpful in finding out students’ needs.
- Helpful in making recommendations to employers.
- Helpful in supplementing other sources of understanding of the child.
- Helpful in their stimulating effect upon the individuals who are rated.
Limitations of rating scale
- Some characteristics are difficult to rate.
- In-depth knowledge and interaction with the individual is required to judge some traits.
- Subjectivity element is present.
- There is a lack of opportunities to rate students.
- Raters generally tend to be generous.