What is a Normalized Mean?

A normalized mean converts results from different rating scales to a common 0–1 scale, making them easier to compare.

Survey questions sometimes use different response ranges (for example, 1–3 or 1–5). A normalized mean adjusts the average score so it reflects the relative position within the scale, rather than the raw number.

For example, a mean of 2 on a 1–3 scale and a mean of 3 on a 1–5 scale both represent the midpoint of their scales. When normalized, they both become 0.50.

This page includes an interactive example that shows how the same normalized value corresponds to averages on different scales.

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Explore the concept

Use the interactive example below to see how the same normalized value translates across different rating scales.