Our Research and Analytics team has established a baseline goal mean of 5.5 for all factors and questions. This goal serves as a reference point. Here is our standard rationale for adopting this goal.
Many individuals are not accustomed to working with a 7-point scale regularly, leading to uncertainty about what constitutes a good score. To make this concept more relatable, we can convert the 7-point scale to a 100-point scale. For example, in school, scoring 90% or above typically equated to an A, while 80% - 89% was considered a B, and so forth. On a 7-point scale, a mean of 1 reflects the lowest score possible, similar to receiving a 0 on a test. Conversely, a mean of 7 represents the highest achievable score, correlating to 100. A score of 4 falls precisely in the middle of a 7-point scale, equivalent to 50. Continuing this logic, a mean of 5.5 aligns with 75, indicating a 75% agreement with the question or factor at hand. It's essential to note that while this goal serves as a guide, it may not be perfect for every situation.
It is important for each institution to define its own specific goals and benchmarks. Typically, institutions that establish their own goals tailor them to different factors based on the subject matter.