Guttman scaling arranges items along a continuum based on level of extremity, so that agreeing with a less extreme item implies agreeing with all preceding items. An example 4-item scale addresses indecent TV programming, with Statement 4 being the most extreme position of banning it. A valid Guttman scale means those agreeing with later statements will also agree with preceding milder statements. Total score on the scale is determined by number of items agreed with. While difficult to develop, Guttman scales are used in political science and other fields to measure attitudes.

1. 
 Guttman scaling, also called scalogram analysis, is based
on the idea that items can be arranged along a continuum
in such a way that a person who agrees with an item or
finds an item acceptable will also agree with or find
acceptable all other items expressing a less extreme
position. For example, here is a hypothetical four-item
Guttman scale:
 1. Indecent programming on TV is harmful to society. 2.
Children should not be allowed to watch indecent TV
shows. 3. Television station managers should not allow
indecent programs on their stations. 4. The government
should ban indecent programming from TV.
10/14/2022
Guttman Scaling
Muhammad Awais
(facebook.com/awwaiis)

2. 
 Presumably, a person who agrees with Statement 4 will
also agree with Statements 1–3. Furthermore, if we
assume the scale is valid, a person who agrees with
Statement 2 will also agree with Statement 1 but will not
necessarily agree with Statements 3 and 4. Because each
score represents a unique set of responses, the number of
items a person agrees with is the person’s total score on a
Guttman scale.
 A Guttman scale requires a great deal of time and energy
to develop. Although they do not appear often in mass
media research, Guttman scales are common in political
science, sociology, public opinion research, and
anthropology.
10/14/2022
Muhammad Awais
(facebook.com/awwaiis)