The extent to which responders agree
with a statement can be assessed adequately in many cases by the options:
1) Agree
2) Disagree
These options have the advantage of allowing for the expression of some
uncertainty. Avoid using the expressions like
1) Strongly agree
2) Agree
3) Disagree
4) Strongly Disagree
Though these options do not bother some people at all, others find them
objectionable. "Agree" is a very strong word; some would say that "Strongly
agree" is redundant or at best a colloqualism.
In addition, there is no
comfortable resting place for those with some uncertainty.
There is no need
to unsettle a segment of responders by this or other cavalier usage of
language.
Another problem can arise when a number of questions all use the same
response categories.
Try and be an optimist in certain situations. And if
you are strongly with a view or belive that the reponse is strong
affirmation then you would respond "tend to agree," indicating
less than full endorsement of the statement, but that interpretation is
certainly open to question.
Others who would agree with your evaluation of
the vocational education program might reluctantly mark "agree,"
because the statement is technically true.
