SCALING UNOBSERVABLE CONSTRUCTS IN SOCIAL-SCIENCE

The use of the logit-probit model for constructing social measurement scales is explored by using two data sets. The first was specifically designed for scaling and consists of answers by 1490 individuals to fi ve questions on economic self-determination. The second is from the Wo rkplace Industrial Relations Survey and relates to answers to six ques tions addressed to 1005 firms about innovations. It is shown that alth ough scales can be constructed their precision (reliability) is likely to be low. Further, for examples like these, latent class models may give an equally satisfactory account of the data.