Standardskalen

Standardskalen, literally meaning "the standard scale" in Swedish, is a generic term used to describe a standardized rating scale employed to assess conformity with defined standards, performance, or quality. It does not refer to a single universal instrument; rather it denotes a family of scales that can be adapted to different domains. The term is used in Swedish-language materials and in international contexts where Swedish terminology appears alongside English descriptors.

A standardskalen typically relies on a fixed set of levels, each with explicit criteria that define what counts as, for example, a 1 or a 5, or Pass and Exceeding. Levels are anchored with objective descriptors to promote consistency among evaluators. Designs may include calibration procedures, anchor examples, and instructions to ensure reliability and comparability across assessors or organizations. Depending on context, a standardskalen may be purely numerical, purely descriptive, or a combination (rubric).

Common applications include quality assurance and supplier audits, regulatory compliance assessments, educational or training evaluations, and performance reviews. In each case, the scale is mapped to predefined standards or requirements to support decision-making, reporting, and benchmarking.

See also: rating scale, rubric, benchmarking, compliance, evaluation framework.

Note: Because Standardskalen is not a fixed, universal instrument, particular implementations vary by field and institution.