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Recode a
reverse coded 5-point Likert scale item
Start off by importing the
ex3reverse.sav into the Data Editor window of SPSS. This data set is
fictional and contains 100 cases and 7 variables (6 items & a case identifier).
For this example, a 6 item paper survey was used to assess people's agreement
with a proposed national law making April 15th a holiday (e.g. day off). The
example items each have the same 5-point Likert response scale. On the paper
survey given to participants, numerically higher responses correspond to greater
agreement. However, question number 4 (q4 in the data set) was worded in such a
way as to reverse code the response set. This is to say, persons responding with
a 1 (typically Disagree Strongly) are really expressing that they Agree Strongly
with the idea of giving citizens the day off on April 15th. The items are listed
below:
1 = Disagree Strongly 2 =
Disagree 3 = Not Sure
4 = Agree 5 = Agree
Strongly
q1.) I think I should have April 15th off from work.
q2.) I am bitter when I have to work on April 15th.
q3.) I do not like leaving my home on April 15th.
q4.) I enjoy working on April 15th.
q5.) I'm quick to leave work on April 15th.
q6.) I think everyone should have April 15th off from work.
Our goal here is to recode q4 so that we can sum the scores of each item to
create a total score in which numerically higher numbers represent greater
agreement with having April 15th off from work.
Start by going to Transform, Recode into Different Variables... (using a
different variable preserves the integrity of the original data).
You should now see the recode dialog box. First, highlight and move q4 into
the "Numeric Variable --> Output Variable:" box using the arrow. Next, type
q4_RC into the "Output Variable" box and type q4 Recoded into the "Label" box
(both on the right). Then click the "Change" button. Next, click on the "Old and
New Values..." button.
You should now see the following dialog box.
(1) Start by typing a 1 in the "Value" field under "Old Value" and type a 5
in the field under "New Value" and then click on the "Add" button.
(2) Next, type a 2 in the "Value" field under "Old Value" and type a 4 in the
field under "New Value" and then click on the "Add" button.
(3) Next, type a 4 in the "Value" field under "Old Value" and type a 2 in the
field under "New Value" and then click on the "Add" button.
(4) Next, type a 5 in the "Value" field under "Old Value" and type a 1 in the
field under "New Value" and then click on the "Add" button.
(5) Next, click on the "All other values" circle
under "Old Value" and click on "Copy old value(s)"
under "New Value"; and then click on the "Add" button. We do not need to change
values of 3 because they substantively mean what we want them to mean.
(6) Next, click on the "Continue" button and then click on the "OK" button to
complete the recode.
Now we can use a compute function to sum the items to produce a total score
in which higher numbers reflect greater agreement and lower numbers reflect less
agreement. As we shall see; the compute function can also be used to recode a
variable or item.
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