4-point scale in questionnaire for analysis in SmartPLS

Questions about the implementation and application of the PLS-SEM method, that are not related to the usage of the SmartPLS software.
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Wiley
PLS Junior User
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2021 5:06 am
Real name and title: Wiley

4-point scale in questionnaire for analysis in SmartPLS

Post by Wiley »

I have a factor about susceptible to motion sickness in the questionnaire, with options including:
1=Not at all
2=Slightly
3=Moderately
4=Very much so

Is it ok to use it for my questionnaire, which can then be analyzed as an independent variable later in SmartPLS?

Thank you.
jmbecker
SmartPLS Developer
Posts: 1282
Joined: Tue Mar 28, 2006 11:09 am
Real name and title: Dr. Jan-Michael Becker

Re: 4-point scale in questionnaire for analysis in SmartPLS

Post by jmbecker »

PLS algorithms use normal (Pearson) correlations and regression. Thus, they assume metric or at least quasi-metric data.
Most researchers assume quasi-metric data for their questionnaire responses if it has sufficient categories (usually at least 5 or better 7 or more) and has equidistant categories (e.g., Likert scales).
Whether you can and want to assume that your variable is quasi-metric depends on your judgment (and the judgment of your reviewers after making a good argument for your decision). While 4 categories might not necessarily be a problem (even if it is not optimal), the bigger problem in your case seems that your categories are not equidistant. The perceived difference between the categories "not at all" and "slightly" might be closer than the distance between "moderately" and "very much so".
Dr. Jan-Michael Becker, BI Norwegian Business School, SmartPLS Developer
Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jan_Michael_Becker
GoogleScholar: http://scholar.google.de/citations?user ... AAAJ&hl=de
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