Final answer:
When five or more items on the 24-item SOM scale are left blank, the scale should not be scored or interpreted to maintain the reliability and validity of the assessment.
Step-by-step explanation:
If five or more items are left blank on the 24-item SOM scale, that scale should not be scored and interpreted. This guidance is likely related to a specific psychological or health-related assessment tool that contains a set of items designed to measure certain constructs like symptoms, behaviors, or attitudes. Leaving too many items blank can compromise the reliability and validity of the scale, making any derived scores or interpretations unreliable. In such cases, it is essential to adhere to the scale's administration guidelines to ensure that results are accurate and meaningful.