Abstract
This paper reports the development of an interval scale of anxiety response. Magnitude estimation procedures were used with three different groups of subjects to develop a suitable scale of seven anxiety descriptors. The ratio of the highest to lowest descriptor magnitudes was 21 to 1. Analyses of the descriptor sets in the various groups indicated high reliability of meaning and high objectivity. In addition, high agreement on meaning was shown for groups of differing education and socioeconomic status. A preliminary study using the scale indicates appropriate preliminary construct validity. Further reliability and validity research is needed. This scale may be useful for assessing anxiety response changes in a variety of contexts.
Full text
PDFSelected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Corah N. L. Methodological needs and behavioral research with adult dental patients. Anesth Prog. 1986 Jan-Feb;33(1):46–49. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Corah N. L., O'Shea R. M., Bissell G. D. The dentist-patient relationship: perceptions by patients of dentist behavior in relation to satisfaction and anxiety. J Am Dent Assoc. 1985 Sep;111(3):443–446. doi: 10.14219/jada.archive.1985.0144. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gracely R. H., McGrath F., Dubner R. Ratio scales of sensory and affective verbal pain descriptors. Pain. 1978 Jun;5(1):5–18. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(78)90020-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Heft M. W., Parker S. R. An experimental basis for revising the graphic rating scale for pain. Pain. 1984 Jun;19(2):153–161. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(84)90835-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- McGrath P. A. Measurement issues in research on dental fears and anxiety. Anesth Prog. 1986 Jan-Feb;33(1):43–46. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- STEVENS S. S. On the psychophysical law. Psychol Rev. 1957 May;64(3):153–181. doi: 10.1037/h0046162. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Scott J., Huskisson E. C. Graphic representation of pain. Pain. 1976 Jun;2(2):175–184. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Watson D., Tellegen A. Toward a consensual structure of mood. Psychol Bull. 1985 Sep;98(2):219–235. doi: 10.1037//0033-2909.98.2.219. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]