7-Point Likert Scale: Step by Step Guide

The 7-Point Likert Scale is a robust measurement tool employed to gauge the intensity of opinions, attitudes, and perceptions within a given survey or research context.

Distinguished by its seven-point range, this scale provides respondents with a spectrum of choices, typically ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree.

What sets the 7 Point Likert Scale apart is its ability to capture nuances in participant responses, offering a more refined understanding of their viewpoints.

By allowing individuals to express degrees of agreement or disagreement, this scale introduces a level of granularity that proves invaluable in discerning subtle shifts in sentiment.

Widely embraced across disciplines, the 7-Point Likert Scale stands as a versatile and insightful instrument, providing researchers with a nuanced lens to explore the intricacies of human perspectives.

In this blog, you’ll learn:

Table of Content:

1. What is a 7-point Likert Scale?
2. Video Tutorials:
3. Why use a Seven-point Likert Scale?
4. Characteristics of a 7-Point Scale Survey
5. 7-point Likert Scale Questionnaire
6. 7-Point Likert Scale Template
7. 7-point Likert Scale Examples
8. How to Analyze and Interpret a 7-Point Likert Scale?
9. Best Practices For 7-Point Likert Scale Range Interpretation
10. How to score a 7-point Likert Scale?
11. Advantages and Disadvantages of a 7-point Likert Scale
12. FAQs
13. Wrap Up

What is a 7-point Likert Scale?

Definition: A 7-point Likert scale is a survey response format designed to measure attitudes, perceptions, or levels of agreement with greater precision. It presents respondents with seven clearly defined options, typically ranging from strong disagreement to strong agreement, including a neutral midpoint.

This expanded range allows for more detailed insights into how people feel or think, making it especially useful in research where subtle differences in opinion matter.

Common Options for a 7-point Likert scale:

You’re likely to recommend our brand to your family and friends.

• 1 = Strongly Disagree
• 2 = Disagree
• 3 = Partially Disagree
• 4 = Neutral
• 5 = Partially Agree
• 6 = Agree
• 7 = Strongly Agree

A 7-point Likert scale is used because it offers a balanced range of response options, capturing a broader spectrum of attitudes, opinions, and behaviors.

This scale allows for greater granularity and precision in data, making it easier to detect subtle differences and providing more reliable and valid results in research studies. Additionally, it reduces central tendency bias and enables respondents to express their feelings more accurately.

Characteristics of a 7-Point Scale Survey

1. Increased Granularity:

A 7-point scale provides a more nuanced range of response options than a 5-point scale. With two extra points, it captures subtle differences in opinion, making it easier to detect mild agreement or disagreement. This granularity supports more refined data interpretation and enhances the overall reliability of responses.

2. Common Applications:

Widely used across various domains, Likert scale 1 to 7 are popular in customer satisfaction surveys, employee engagement evaluations, academic research, and product or service assessments. Their balanced structure makes them suitable for capturing sentiments, behaviors, and expectations with greater depth.

3. Structure:

A typical 7-point Likert scale includes a neutral midpoint and equal gradations on either side. For example: “Strongly Disagree,” “Disagree,” “Somewhat Disagree,” “Neither Agree nor Disagree,” “Somewhat Agree,” “Agree,” and “Strongly Agree.” Variants also exist for rating importance, frequency, likelihood, or satisfaction.

4. Considerations:

While offering more detailed feedback, a Likert scale 1 to 7 can lead to respondent fatigue in longer surveys if overused. The increased choices may confuse participants who prefer simpler formats, but when used appropriately, they strike a strong balance between detail and usability.

5. Improved Decision-Making Value:

Data from a Likert scale 1 to 7, often supports more advanced statistical analysis, including mean comparisons and trend analysis. The broader range helps researchers and decision-makers extract actionable insights that might be overlooked with fewer response categories.

7-point Likert Scale Questionnaire

Here are the 7-point Likert scale questions we can use:

Technology Adoption:

• I find the new software system intuitive and easy to learn.
  • 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 7 (Strongly Agree)

Health and Wellness:

• I am satisfied with the health and wellness programs offered by my company.
  • 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 7 (Strongly Agree)

Community Engagement:

• I feel connected to and engaged with my local community.
  • 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 7 (Strongly Agree)

Educational Content:

• The educational materials provided are clear and comprehensive.
  • 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 7 (Strongly Agree)

Environmental Awareness:

• I am conscious of my daily activities on the environment.
  • 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 7 (Strongly Agree)

7-Point Likert Scale Template

The following template can be used for a 7-Point Likert Scale:

7-point Likert Scale Examples

Example # 1

The data below is about respondents and their views towards the training that was recently conducted.

Note the difference after visualizing the survey data below.

Insights

• The overall rating is 4.7/7
• The question “This training was relevant to the work I do” got a 4.7 rating
• The question “The instructor was good and knowledgeable” got a 4.8

Example #2

The survey data below is about ratings of a particular shoe brand.

Let’s dive in.

 Check out the final 7 point Likert Scale below.

Insights

• The overall rating is 4.5/7.
• The question “I plan to buy these shoes for friends or family members got a 4.6/7 rating.
• The question “I would recommend these shoes to others” got a 4.3/7 rating.

How to Analyze and Interpret a 7-Point Likert Scale?

Excel & Google Sheets are popular visualization tools among business owners. However, they lack a ready-made Likert Scale with up to 7 levels.

We’re not advising you to dump Microsoft Excel. 

There’s an amazingly affordable tool that comes as an add-in you can easily install in Excel & Google Sheets to access a ready-to-go and easy-to-read Likert Scale.

The application is called ChartExpo.

What is ChartExpo?

ChartExpo is an add-in you can easily install in your Excel to access a ready-made and visually appealing 7-point Likert Scale.

Features and Benefits

• ChartExpo has an ultra-friendly user interface (UI) to help save time.
• Transform intricate tables and spreadsheets into captivating graphs effortlessly, requiring only a few clicks to achieve visually stunning results.
• ChartExpo has a 7-day trial, which is free. So, if you’re not satisfied with the data visualization add-in within a week, you can easily opt out within minutes.
• You have unlimited freedom to customize your visualizations according to your preferences.

Let’s get on with it.

Method #1

To get started with ChartExpo in Excel, follow the steps below:

• Open your Excel.
• Open the worksheet and click the Insert button to access the My Apps option.

• Click the Insert button to initiate the ChartExpo engine.

• Once ChartExpo is loaded, you will see a list.

• Click on the Likert Scale Chart icon to get started.

• Highlight your data and click the Create Chart From Selection button, as shown.

• To access a 7 point Likert Scale, click the Settings buttons.
• Once the Settings show, click the Scale Type.
• Click the Select Scale box and select #7, as shown below.

• Click the Apply button to preserve your changes.
• Check out the final results below.

Method #2

To install the ChartExpo add-on for Google Sheets, from this link.

• Open your Google Sheets application.
• Open the worksheet and click the Extensions menu.
• Then go to Graphs & Visualizations by ChartExpo.
• Finally, click the Open button in the dropdown.

• Click the Add New button to access your fully stocked library.

• Once ChartExpo is loaded, you will see a list. Look for the “Likert Scale Chart.”

• Select the sheet holding your data and select the Metrics option. Fill in the numerical numbers (in our scenario, we’ll fill in Responses)
• Select the Dimensions button and fill in the dimensional data (in our example, we’ll use Questions and Scale).
• Click the Create Chart button, as shown below.

• After changing from a 5-point Scale to a 7-point Scale, like below.

Best Practices For 7-Point Likert Scale Range Interpretation

1. Group Responses into Meaningful Ranges

To simplify interpretation, cluster responses into categories:

• 1–3: Disagreement
• 4: Neutral
• 5–7: Agreement

This helps identify overall sentiment trends without overcomplicating the data.

2. Label Each Point Clearly

Each scale point should have a consistent and descriptive label (e.g., Strongly Disagree, Disagree, Somewhat Disagree…) to avoid confusion and ensure uniform understanding among respondents.

3. Avoid Over-Interpreting Small Differences

While a 7-point scale offers more granularity, be cautious not to overstate the significance of small score differences (e.g., a 0.2 shift in average rating). Use statistical tests when concluding subtle changes.

4. Use the Midpoint Meaningfully

The midpoint (typically point 4) should be treated as a valid “neutral” or “undecided” response, not ignored. It can reflect indecision, lack of knowledge, or genuine neutrality.

5. Support Interpretation with Visuals

Use Likert charts, heatmaps, or stacked column charts to show distribution across the 7 points. This makes patterns and outliers more visible and helps stakeholders grasp insights quickly.

How to score a 7-point Likert Scale?

• Assign Numerical Values: Each response option on the scale is assigned a numerical value. For example:
  • Strongly Disagree: 1
  • Disagree: 2
  • Somewhat Disagree: 3
  • Neutral: 4
  • Somewhat Agree: 5
  • Agree: 6
  • Strongly Agree: 7
• Collect Responses: Collect the responses from your survey or questionnaire.
• Calculate Individual Scores: For each question, note the numerical value corresponding to the respondent’s answer.
• Sum or Average Scores: To analyze the data, you can either sum the scores for each respondent to get a total score or average the scores to get a mean score.
• Interpret Scores: Higher scores typically indicate stronger agreement or a more positive attitude, while lower scores indicate stronger disagreement or a more negative attitude.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a 7-point Likert Scale

Advantages of 7-point Likert Scale

One of the key benefits of a 7-point Likert Scale is that it provides different degrees (up to 7) of agreement and disagreement

1. Enhanced Sensitivity: The 7-point scale offers a broader range of response options compared to shorter scales, allowing for increased sensitivity in measuring attitudes or opinions. This added granularity enables researchers to detect subtle variations in participant perspectives.
2. Midpoint Option: With a neutral midpoint (such as “Neither Agree nor Disagree”), the 7-point Likert Scale provides respondents with an explicit neutral position. This prevents respondents from defaulting to a middle position on shorter scales, encouraging more thoughtful and accurate responses.
3. Flexibility: The scale accommodates a diverse array of opinions by offering multiple degrees of agreement or disagreement. This flexibility is particularly useful when assessing complex or multifaceted attitudes, allowing respondents to express a range of nuanced opinions.
4. Statistical Analysis: The 7 point Likert Scale produces ordinal data that lends itself well to statistical analysis. Researchers can apply a variety of statistical techniques to derive meaningful insights and trends from the collected data.
5. Ease of Interpretation: The scale’s balanced structure makes it straightforward to interpret responses. The progression from strongly disagree to strongly agree is intuitively understood by respondents, reducing the likelihood of confusion or misinterpretation.
6. Consistency Across Studies: The 7-point Likert Scale is a widely accepted and standardized tool, making it easier to compare results across different studies. This consistency facilitates meta-analyses and allows researchers to build upon existing knowledge coherently.
7. Time Efficiency: While providing a nuanced view, the 7 point Likert Scale remains concise, making it time-efficient for both researchers and respondents. This balance between depth and brevity is crucial for maintaining participant engagement and data quality.

Disadvantages of the 7-point Likert Scale

• Limited Differentiation: Responses may lack precision.
• Central Tendency Bias: Tendency to choose neutral options.
• Acquiescence Bias: Inclination to agree without consideration.
• Response Set Bias: Consistent pattern of responding.
• Interpretation Challenges: Difficulty in interpreting the neutral point.
• Cultural Variations: Cultural and linguistic differences can affect responses.
• Order Effects: Presentation order can influence responses.

FAQs

What does a 7 point scale mean?

A 7-point scale is a type of rating scale that offers seven response options, typically ranging from strongly negative to strongly positive. It’s commonly used in surveys to measure attitudes, satisfaction, or agreement levels.

For example:

• 1 = Strongly Disagree
• 2 = Disagree
• 3 = Slightly Disagree
• 4 = Neutral
• 5 = Slightly Agree
• 6 = Agree
• 7 = Strongly Agree

What type of data is a 7-point Likert scale?

A 7-point Likert scale typically produces ordinal data, which represents ranked responses with a clear order (e.g., from “Strongly Disagree” to “Strongly Agree”).

However, when the intervals between points are assumed to be equal, researchers often treat it as interval data for statistical analysis, such as mean, standard deviation, and correlation.

What is the 7-point rating system?

The 7-point Likert scale is considered ordinal because it shows rank order without guaranteed equal spacing between points. However, in practice, researchers often treat it as an interval to perform statistical analyses, such as calculating averages or running regressions.

Wrap Up

Analyzing survey responses for in-depth insights shouldn’t be a hassle. Or even overwhelming to you.

Survey responses are complex and may have textual and numerical data. This requires you to change your strategy during the analysis phase.

A 7-point Likert Scale comes in handy in this phase.

This visualization design is popular among seasoned data visualization experts, especially when extracting actionable insights from survey data.