Tendency towards the middle

The tendency towards the middle (rarely mean value orientation or central tendency , English error of central tendency ) is the tendency of respondents in empirical social research to select the middle scale points rather than the extremes in multi-level scales (e.g. Likert scales ). The tendency towards the middle reduces the analysable variance and thus reduces the usefulness of multi-part scales for measurement in the social sciences.

The tendency to the middle belongs to the response tendencies ( English response errors ). The extent of this depends on the design of the questionnaire, the subject of the survey and the personal characteristics of the respondents.

One possibility to exclude the tendency towards the middle is to have an even number of selectable scale values. Thus, a participant has to give a rating in terms of positive or negative direction, albeit to a small extent, and cannot choose the absolute middle. It is then a forced choice format.

See also

• Regression to the middle
• Acquisition
• Social desirability
• Error of judgment

literature

• Rainer Schnell , Paul B. Hill , Elke Esser: Methods of empirical social research. 6th edition. Oldenbourg Verlag, Munich 1999, p. 330 f. ISBN 3-486-25043-4 (EA Munich 1988)
• Werner Greve, Dirk Wentura: Scientific observation. An introduction. Beltz, Weinheim 1997, pp. 65f. ISBN 3-621-27360-3 .