visual analogue scale

a psychometric instrument used to evaluate subjective characteristics that extend over a range of continuous values. Respondents specify their level of the characteristic of interest by indicating a position along a continuous line, anchored at its end points by word descriptors. For example, a visual analogue scale for performance might have poor on the left end with a blank line across to excellent on the right end. The respondent would mark a place along that line to indicate his or her perceived performance level. Also called unnumbered graphic rating scale.

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Psychology term of the day

February 16th 2025

multiple comparison test

any of various statistical procedures used to follow up on a significant result from an analysis of variance by determining which groups in particular differ in their mean values. Examples include Duncan’s multiple range test, the Fisher least significant difference test, the REGWQ test, the Scheffé test, and Tukey’s honestly significant difference test. See also post hoc comparison.