How to create a Likert scale in Microsoft Forms

Whether you’re a market researcher conducting a survey about your latest product or an educator evaluating student engagement, gathering data related to people’s thoughts and preferences can provide essential details to direct your next steps. A common approach to gathering this type of data is through a Likert scale.

Using Microsoft Forms, you can create a Likert scale easily. In this article, we provide step-by-step instructions for how to create a Likert scale in Microsoft Forms. And, if you’d like a more robust form-building tool, you can learn more about another leading survey platform that enables Likert scales: Jotform.

But first, let’s look more closely at Likert scales, including what they are and when you should use them.

What is a Likert scale, and when should you use it?

A Likert scale is a type of survey scale or rating scale that measures survey respondents’ attitudes, preferences, opinions, satisfaction levels, and more. 

It is a closed-ended survey question, where survey respondents choose an answer from a range of predetermined options. Each end of the scale represents an extreme attitude, with moderate or neutral options in between. Likert scales can pose one or multiple questions.

For example, a Likert scale may pose the question “How much do you like our new logo design?” One end of the scale may be “very much” while the other end may be “not at all.” Most Likert scales have four to seven answer options from which respondents can select, but the scales can be as big or as small as needed. 

A Likert scale works well in numerous scenarios, such as 

• Measuring satisfaction: You can ask how satisfied customers are with a specific product or service.
• Determining likelihood: You can find out how likely respondents are to complete a specific action, such as signing up for your newsletter.
• Gauging importance: You can see how strongly respondents feel about something, such as a product offering or experience.

Businesses and educational institutions often use Likert scales in feedback forms, satisfaction surveys, engagement surveys, and similar types of questionnaires.

How to create a Likert scale in Microsoft Forms: Step-by-step instructions

Microsoft Forms offers a simple and straightforward way to create Likert scales. Follow these step-by-step instructions to build your Likert scale in Microsoft Forms: 

1. Open Microsoft Forms. Click New Form.

2. Click on Add new or Quick start with, depending on your version of Microsoft Forms.

3. Select Likert.

4. Fill out the details of your Likert scale. Include the main question or statement at the top. For example, “Based on your recent shopping experience at our store, how much do you agree with the following statements?” 

For each statement (rows on the left), input the criteria you want to measure. In this example, you may say “The store layout is well organized,” “The aisles have enough room to navigate comfortably,” and “The new layout has improved my shopping experience.”

For each option (columns at the top), input the scale for measurement. In this example, you may say, “strongly agree,” “agree,” “neutral,” “disagree,” and “strongly disagree.”

5. Complete the rest of your online form. 

6. Click Collect responses to send your form.

How to create a Likert scale in Jotform

Microsoft Forms is a basic form builder that you can use to create a Likert scale. However, if you’re not happy with the limited features of Microsoft Forms or want to use a more robust form builder, consider Jotform. 

Jotform is a valuable Microsoft Forms alternative you can use to build Likert scales and more. Unlike Microsoft Forms, Jotform comes with dozens of form templates that include a Likert scale, such as the Previous Year Party Survey and the Employee Motivation Survey. Customize the template and Likert scale options to meet your needs using the highly intuitive form builder, and you’re set.

If you’d like to create your form and Likert scale from scratch, you can do that easily in Jotform. You can create single-question and multi-question Likert scales in Jotform.

Create a single-question Likert scale in Jotform

Follow these instructions to create a single-question Likert scale in Jotform. 

1. Open Jotform Form Builder. 

2. Click on Create. 

3. Select Form.

4. Select the type of form you wish to create. You can start a form from scratch, use a template, or import an existing form.

If you select Start from scratch, you have the option to choose from a Classic form or a Card form. A Classic form is one that shows respondents all the questions on one page. A Card form presents one question per page and requires respondents to provide an answer to each question before proceeding.

5. Click on Add Element.

6. Scroll down to Survey Elements. Click Scale Rating. You can also click and drag this feature to place it where you’d like on your form.

7. If you’d like to customize the rows and columns of the Likert scale, click on the Gear icon on the right to open the Field Properties menu.

8. Type in your Field Label (question). Select Label Alignment based on your needs.

9. Under the Options tab, edit the rating text and values as needed.

10. Complete the rest of your form. 

11. Click Settings to edit your form settings as needed. 

12. Click Publish. Select your preferred method for sharing your form, such as via email or link. You can also embed the form in your website. 

Create a multi-question Likert scale in Jotform

If you’d like to create a Likert scale with multiple questions and multiple rows, you can do that in Jotform. Follow these instructions: 

1. Open Jotform Form Builder.

2. Click on Create. 

3. Select Form.

4. Select the type of form you wish to create. You can start a form from scratch, use a template, or import an existing form.

If you select Start from scratch, you have the option to choose from a Classic form or a Card form. 

5. Click on Add Element. 

6. Click Input table, which is also located under Survey Elements. You have the option to click and drag the Input table to the correct location on your form.

7. Type in the Likert scale main question. If you’d like to customize the table, click the Gear icon to open the Field Properties menu.

8. Edit the Input Table Properties.

9. Under the Fields tab, edit the Input Type, Rows, and Columns as needed. Jotform enables you to add or remove rows and columns based on your survey requirements.

10. Complete the rest of your form. 

11. Click Settings to edit your form settings as needed. 

12. Click Publish. Select your preferred method for sharing your form, such as via email or link. You can also embed the form in your website.

Create a Likert scale and gather valuable data

Now that you know how to create a Likert scale in Microsoft Forms and Jotform, you’re on your way to collecting valuable insights about your respondents’ attitudes, preferences, opinions, satisfaction levels, and more. 

Both form builders provide a way to create a Likert scale, but Jotform offers the flexibility you need to fully customize the Likert scale to your exact requirements. 

Jotform is a robust form builder with a comprehensive feature set. Once you’ve collected the data from your Likert scale, you can manage it in Jotform Tables and build visually stunning reports with it in Jotform Report Builder. And, you can collect electronic signatures from survey respondents in Jotform.

Plus, Jotform is free to use, so you can get started right away. Give Jotform a try today.