A Take a look at 5 Science-Primarily based Questionnaires & Exams
Attachment kinds could be measured via numerous strategies, together with self-report questionnaires, interviews, and observational assessments. In two current meta-analyses, a number of devices had been evaluated on their psychometric properties (Justo‐Núñez et al., 2022; Ravitz et al., 2010).
Ravitz et al. (2010) examined 29 devices, together with interviews and self-report questions, that had been used to measure adults’ attachment kinds over the past 25 years. Of those, 11 had been discovered to have dependable psychometric properties and are advisable to be used. In Justo‐Núñez et al. (2022), 24 self-reported devices had been evaluated, all of which had been self-reported measures.
How to decide on between instruments
No software is superior to the opposite. Deciding which software to make use of is as much as you and based mostly solely in your wants. A shorter software just like the Grownup Attachment Types may be higher if time is restricted.
To measure the diploma of attachment, contemplate the State Grownup Attachment Questionnaire. These instruments can be used as dialogue factors, through which case, a brief software just like the Relationships Questionnaire can be utilized to start out the dialogue.
Whereas these measures present worthwhile insights, numerous elements could affect particular person responses, and context issues when decoding the outcomes.
The evaluated instruments differ on a number of properties, listed beneath.
Psychometric properties
When deciding on a particular take a look at or measure, it’s important to think about its psychometric properties (Prepare dinner & Beckman, 2006). Though a number of psychometric properties exist (Prepare dinner & Beckman, 2006), a very powerful are validity (does the take a look at measure what it says it does?) and reliability (are the take a look at outcomes secure?).
Instruments with good psychometric properties can be utilized confidently in settings the place the findings may be challenged, comparable to in a court docket of legislation, or are extraordinarily essential, for instance in an academic setting.
Attachment: Class or a dimension
Exams differ on how attachment kinds are measured. Some measure it as a class, whether or not or not the consumer has a selected type, whereas others measure it as a dimension (Ravitz et al., 2010).
If you’d like a take a look at that measures which type your consumer has, contemplate a software that measures the class moderately than the dimension. Ensure to analysis what sorts of classes (or dimensions) are measured throughout the chosen software.
Key relationships
Exams differ in response to relationship. For instance, the Relationship Questionnaire (Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991) evaluates the attachment type with romantic companions, whereas the Grownup Attachment Types is indiscriminate (Hazan & Shaver, 1987).
Be pragmatic about your software selection. Contemplate the questions’ wording and your consumer. For instance, a questionnaire about intimate, romantic relationships shouldn’t be applicable for a kid.
Really useful scientific instruments
We’ve solely highlighted a couple of of the advisable instruments on this submit, however the full listing is within the cited manuscripts listed within the reference part.
Grownup Attachment Types
Essentially the most extensively used software is the Grownup Attachment Types self-report questionnaire. It’s a single-item self-report measure the place shoppers are requested to choose from three descriptions the one which finest corresponds to the present relationship (see Desk 2 in Hazan & Shaver, 1987).
The descriptions are the core parts of the next three attachment kinds described by Ainsworth et al. (1978): safe, avoidant, and anxious.
Because it incorporates just one query, this software is fast and straightforward to manage, however its reliability and validity are comparatively excessive. This software is finest suited as a place to begin for discussing attachment kinds moderately than a diagnostic software. A duplicate of this questionnaire exists on the Fetzer Institute web site.
Relationships Questionnaire
A second software is the Relationships Questionnaire, which was developed by Bartholomew and Horowitz (1991) in response to Hazan and Shaver (1987).
Bartholomew and Horowitz argue that attachment kinds needs to be thought of to be dimensions moderately than classes. The Relationships Questionnaire solely contains 4 statements, every describing a unique attachment type, and interviewees present the extent to which every assertion precisely describes their relationship with their associate on a scale from 1 to 7. Thus, the software measures attachment kinds as a dimension and class.
It’s simple and fast to manage and has been used extensively in revealed analysis, however its reliability and validity might be increased. The statements are in Bartholomew and Horowitz (1991) and the Fetzer Institute web site.
Grownup Attachment Scale and Revised-Grownup Attachment Scale
The Grownup Attachment Scale is a self-report questionnaire that assesses grownup attachment kinds based mostly on Hazan and Shaver’s (1987) pioneering analysis right into a software to measure attachment kinds.
Collins and Learn (1990) had two goals: first, to deal with some criticisms of Hazan and Shaver (1987), and second, so as to add extra nuanced questions. The Grownup Attachment Scale is an 18-item scale, utilizing a five-point Likert scale to measure every merchandise starting from 1 (under no circumstances attribute) to five (very attribute).
These 18 objects measure one in all three constructs: dependence, nervousness, and closeness (see Desk 2 in Collins & Learn, 1990). Collins (1996) developed a revised model of the Grownup Attachment Scale, titled the Revised-Grownup Attachment Scale (RAAS).
The distinction between the Grownup Attachment Scale and the RAAS is the wording of 1 merchandise and the substitute of three objects to deal with ambiguity and enhance reliability. These two instruments are appropriate for assessing consumer attachment kinds as a result of they’re broadly utilized in analysis and have good validity and reliability (Ravitz et al., 2010). The Grownup Attachment Scale can be out there for obtain.
Please observe:
The Grownup Attachment Scale shouldn’t be confused with the Grownup Attachment Types self-report questionnaire mentioned beforehand. They’re completely different instruments.
State Grownup Attachment Questionnaire
The State Grownup Attachment Questionnaire (SAAM; Gillath et al., 2009) is a extra just lately developed questionnaire. In contrast to the earlier instruments that assumed that attachment kinds are secure, the SAAM additionally considers situational elements and the way these have an effect on reported attachment kinds.
The software contains 21 statements, which load (i.e., measure) onto three attachment kinds: safe, anxious, and avoidant. Every assertion is rated on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree), and respondents should point out their diploma of settlement at the moment. The psychometric properties, comparable to reliability and validity, are good (Gillath et al., 2009).
3 Attachment Type Quizzes & Scales
If a scientifically developed attachment type questionnaire is pointless, a number of quizzes exist on the internet.
The primary quiz exists on the Attachment Challenge web site. With the free quiz, the Attachment Challenge offers details about attachment kinds so readers can enhance their type and cease damaging generational patterns.
The quiz is cut up into completely different sections with Likert scale questions on:
- Maternal caregiver relationship
- Paternal caregiver relationship
- Romantic associate relationship
- Common attachment
The outcomes present a measurement for every of the 4 query varieties and an general final result about attachment type. These detailed outcomes are helpful to know whether or not your consumer has various attachment kinds for every relationship sort. The questionnaire scoring shouldn’t be freely out there, and it should be accomplished on-line.
The Stonybrook Attachment Principle and Analysis Web site is a superb useful resource for clinicians focused on attachment concept. You can see details about workshops and coaching analysis papers, movies, and a listing of questionnaires and scales appropriate for kids, youngsters, and adults.