Introduction
Impulsiveness refers to the state of mind in which one makes decisions without much thinking. A good example of this is an impulse buy (buying something you later realise you do not really need).
Barratt’s impulsiveness scale is a popular measure of impusiveness.
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Technically
This survey shows a couple of special PsyToolkit features:
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In a scale question type (t: scale), you can set a score for each item individually, which will overrule the scoring of the scale used. The individual values for each possible answer are given between "/"
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In the set command you can apply a function (in this case "sum") to all labels starting with BIS_. You can use the asterisk to tell the set question type to match any text. This saves some typing. In this example, $BIS_* is equal to $BIS_1 $BIS_2 $BIS3
The survey code for PsyToolkit
scale: howoften
- Rarely/Never
- Occasionally
- Often
- Almost Always/Always
l: BIS_1
t: scale howoften
q: DIRECTIONS: People differ in the ways they act and think in<br>
different situations. This is a test to measure some of the ways in<br>
which you act and think. Read each statement and select how often<br>
this applies to you. Do not spend too much time on any statement.<br>
<b>Answer quickly and honestly.</b>
- {reverse} I plan tasks carefully.
- I do things without thinking.
- I make-up my mind quickly.
- I am happy-go-lucky.
- I don't "pay attention."
- I have "racing" thoughts.
- {reverse} I plan trips well ahead of time.
- {reverse} I am self controlled.
- {reverse} I concentrate easily.
- {reverse} I save regularly.
l: BIS_2
t: scale howoften
q: DIRECTIONS: People differ in the ways they act and think in<br>
different situations. This is a test to measure some of the ways in<br>
which you act and think. Read each statement and select how often<br>
this applies to you. Do not spend too much time on any statement.<br>
<b>Answer quickly and honestly.</b>
- I "squirm" at plays or lectures.
- {reverse} I am a careful thinker.
- {reverse} I plan for job security.
- I say things without thinking.
- {reverse} I like to think about complex problems.
- I change jobs.
- I act "on impulse".
- I get easily bored when solving thought problems.
- I act on the spur of the moment.
- {reverse} I am a steady thinker.
l: BIS_3
t: scale howoften
q: DIRECTIONS: People differ in the ways they act and think in<br>
different situations. This is a test to measure some of the ways in<br>
which you act and think. Read each statement and select how often<br>
this applies to you. Do not spend too much time on any statement.<br>
<b>Answer quickly and honestly.</b>
- I change residences.
- I buy things on impulse.
- I can only think about one thing at a time.
- I change hobbies.
- I spend or charge more than I earn.
- I often have extraneous thoughts when thinking.
- I am more interested in the present than the future.
- I am restless at the theater or lectures.
- {reverse} I like puzzles.
- {reverse} I am future oriented.
l: scoreBIS
t: set
- sum BIS_*
l: feedback
t: info
q: Your overall BIS score = {$scoreBIS} on a scale from 30 to 120.<br>
Note that there are subscales that have not be reported here (see paper about BIS)<br>
References
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E. S. Barratt (1965). Factor analysis of some psychometric measures of impulsiveness and anxiety. Psychological Reports, 16, 547-554.
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J. H. Patton, M. S. Stanford, and E. S. Barratt (1995). Factor structure of the Barratt impulsiveness scale. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 51, 768-774.
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M. S. Stanford, C. W. Mathias, D. M. Dougherty, S. L. Lake, N. E. Anderson, J. H. Patton (2009). Fifty years of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale: An update and review. Personality and Individual Differences, 47, 385-395.
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Scoring BIS-11: Download scoring chart