What Is the “Magic Number”? A Review of Response Categories in Measuring Writing Self-Efficacy

• In Event: Scale Development: Issues and Applications

Abstract

This review focuses on the number of response categories used and the general adherence of writing self-efficacy scales to the scale development guidelines proposed by A. Bandura (2006). The review builds on self-efficacy research examining item specificity and accuracy by examining the nature of response scales used in 48 research studies found in PsycInfo and Web of Science, including measures of writing self-efficacy. The majority of studies used the 0-100 response scale recommended by Bandura. However, this response scale was not used in the same manner throughout the literature. Number of response categories, rationale for response scale use, and use of anchor labels are discussed and synthesized relative to scale development literature.

Authors

• Amanda R. Butz, University of Kentucky

• Michael Toland, University of Kentucky

• Sharon Zumbrunn, Virginia Commonwealth University

• Fred Danner, University of Kentucky

• Ellen L. Usher, University of Kentucky