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The Effects of VAS vs. Likert Scales on Emotion Dynamics of Negative Affect in Experience Sampling Methods

Staudigel, Lea (2023) The Effects of VAS vs. Likert Scales on Emotion Dynamics of Negative Affect in Experience Sampling Methods.

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Abstract:The Experience Sampling Method (ESM) captures real-time emotional states and is often used to investigate emotion dynamics, encompassing variability, instability, and inertia. Commonly used response formats such as Likert scales and Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) have been associated with endpoint aversion or the ceiling effect. This study aims to examine the effects of Likert scales and VAS on emotional variability, instability, and inertia of negative affect (NA) within ESM questionnaires. A randomized controlled trial was conducted using a between-subject design. Participants were recruited using convenience and volunteer sampling (N = 89). Each participant was asked to complete ten semi-randomly scheduled questionnaires per day for seven days. Fixed-effect and linear mixed models were utilized. Scores were similarly distributed between conditions. No statistically significant effects of response format were found on emotional variability (b = .033, p = .588), on emotional instability (b = .002, p = .984), and on emotional inertia (b = - 0.062, p = 0.077). This study concludes that the choice between Likert scale and VAS does not appear to have a significant effect on reported emotion dynamics. However, the generalizability of these results is limited due to the unrepresentative sample obtained and the low compliance rate.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology BSc (56604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/95290
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