A parks survey uses 1–5 Likert scales, yet a dashboard reports average satisfaction as 3.847291. What reporting problem should the information manager correct?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
Reporting a Likert average to six decimals is like weighing a suitcase on a bathroom scale and claiming it is 23.847291 pounds—the extra digits look smart but they're noise. Match precision to how coarse the measurement really is. Honest reporting beats fake exactness every time.
Full Explanation
Ordinal survey scales support limited numeric summarization; excessive decimal places imply a measurement resolution the instrument does not provide. False precision misleads civic audiences about certainty and can distort comparisons. Managers should set display rules that reflect the scale's actual precision and uncertainty.