Neutral values in a Likert scale for UX Surveys

1. What does neutral mean in Likert scale?
2. How do you score neutral on a Likert scale?
3. Should you include a neutral option in surveys?
4. Does a Likert scale have to have a neutral?

What does neutral mean in Likert scale?

The wording of his original five-point scale—strongly approve, approve, undecided, disapprove, and strongly disapprove—has changed to strongly agree, agree, neutral (or neither agree or disagree), disagree, and strongly disagree. Some practitioners, however, prefer using a four-point Likert Scale without a midpoint.

How do you score neutral on a Likert scale?

Neutral denotes a state of confirming their positions. We take in an attitude scale neutral states that the respondent have neither a positive response nor a negative response, but undecided denotes a state of confusion of the respondent.

Should you include a neutral option in surveys?

If the goal of the question is to understand different opinions, we should not only use a neutral point but also a “Not sure/Don't Know/Not Applicable” option. This would allow respondents in scenarios 2 and 3 to provide an answer that is true to their experience.

Does a Likert scale have to have a neutral?

You might have noticed in some surveys that there is often no “neutral” or “undecided” category included in the middle of the scale, e.g., what's usually a 3 on a 5-point Likert scale. Sometimes it is placed at the end of the scale, and sometimes it is eliminated entirely.