Is it possible to improve sensitivity in Likert scales?

Abstract

Five-point scales are applied primarily in research using Likert scales without a methodological foundation for doing so. A review of three known journals allows to reach at this conclusion. It seems that this is done for tradition, and it is difficult to assign a label to more than five response options. This article puts into question this tradition and brings arguments to propose other alternatives. The importance of improving the sensitivity of scales is discussed; it is recommended to avoid the use of categorical labels, which prevents their use sensu strictu as interval scale since it becomes nominal (categorical); the rejection of extreme values is also analyzed to. As a result, the proposal is to recommend the use of eleven-point scales (from 0 to 10).