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.