O formato das questões de resposta fechada: Implicações para a natureza, validade e fiabilidade das medidas

Abstract

This paper aims to support researchers in the decisions about the use of closed answer questions intheir questionnaires by critically reviewing the literature regarding the implications of such decisionsfor the nature, validity and reliability of the measure. This literature’s review provides arguments forthe researcher to decide on how best to operationalize their variables through a closed response.Arguments presented support decision-making in the construction of response options to be providedto the respondent, and the type of scale to be used: graphical or non-graphical; categories or continuousassessment; with 3 or more points; with or without labels and in this case, with what kind of labels,etc. Other topics are illustrated to be considered for construction of a response scale analyzing thespecific case in which “perceived frequencies” are measured.