Sum-Based Scoring for Dichotomous and Likert-scale Questions

Abstract: In this article we investigate how to score a dichotomous scored question when co-mingled with a typically scored set of Likert scale questions. The goal is to find the upper value of the dichotomous response such that no single question is overly weighted when analyzing the summed values of the entire set of questions. Results demonstrate that setting the upper value of the dichotomous value to the max value of the Likert scale question scale is inappropriate. We provide a more appropriate value to use when considering Likert scale questions up to the max value of 10.