Likert and Visually Oriented Attitude Scales

I am posting this blog post for my class COMM 333 Persuasion for Professor Petrovic. I will be analyzing the Likert and Visually Oriented attitude scales. Likert scales are defined as a type of scale that is used to measure attitudes or opinions. An example of a Likert scale is a student survey. Which asks about how the teacher performs, but also how well the student was able to grasp the information. Using a scale ranging from "strongly agree" to "strongly disagree." " Visually oriented scales are self-reporting scales that represent both favorability and un-favorability. An example of a visually-oriented scale is used in hospital settings when rating pain on a level from one to ten. The benefit of the scale in measuring attitudes is that it provides insight into the wellbeing of others, whether they are in pain or copasetic.

This practice of attitude scaling is best exemplified in hospital settings, where patients use visual scaling to better express their pain (especially mothers in labor). In my personal experience as a patient, I have found that the pictorial representations of pain could be passive and borderline juvenile. It also could potentially inspire a sense of urgency that is not necessary and even a feeling of a lack of empathy for those that are physically incapacitated.

Elaboration Likelihood Model is the two basic routes to persuasion utilizing both a central route and a peripheral route. A central route is reflective and requires mental effort while the Peripheral route is reflexive and based on mental shortcuts. The theory of TRA, also known as the Theory of Reasoned Action is the most widely used persuasion theory. It bases its theory on cognitive processes that lead to behavioral decisions. I feel that social desirability might influence one's responses by influencing them to pick the best answers. They are ultimately portraying that they understand the information provided or want to seem as though they are something that they are not. Some want to feel included, so they choose answers that everyone else in the survey would prefer, instead of picking what they think is right.

I have learned much from this assignment about Likert and Visual Orientation. I have learned that the testing is widely used in everyday living due to rating things from movies to how an individual is feeling. This analysis will help shape my future interactions with attitude scales by preparing and informing me about why I should be taking them seriously, while also providing a truthful feedback.