An approach to developing Likert scale survey results based on the example of a research study involving a limited number of students

Surveys are important tools for collecting knowledge, including student knowledge, and assessing their opinions and behavior. Survey results inspire information processing and selection of a processing method for further knowledge management. In this study, an improved approach to the method of presenting survey results was developed, using the Likert scale. In the survey, 20 students answered 10 questions (issues) that examined their opinions on the impact of modern technical equipment in dairy production on the assessment of this production. The Feature Significance Index (FSI) was used to develop the survey study results. FSI is the ratio of the percentage share of the highest to the lowest ratings on the Likert scale. In the case of four issues, none of the students indicated the options very little impact and little impact. Therefore, the FSI index could not be calculated, so a modified version was proposed. After ranking the issues in the survey based on the FSI index, the difference in FSI between the best and the worst rated issue was more than 13 times. This difference was less than two times in the modified version of the FSI index. A larger difference allows for a more comprehensive interpretation of the survey results. The study confirmed that the small number of survey participants is a key limitation in developing the survey results.