novelty and intensity seeking exists in the SSS under different scale names: Dis for intensity and ES for
novelty.
Divergent/Discriminant
Smorti and Guarnieri (2013) analyzed the discriminative validity of AISS scales by assessing the differences
between males and females via univariate analyses of variance (ANOVAs), with gender as a fixed factor. A sam-
ple of adolescent males showed significantly higher scores on the Novelty scale than did adolescent females,
M516.25, SD52.99 vs. M515.22, SD53.23, respectively [ F(1347)59.32, p,.005; η25.03]. Adolescent males
also exhibited significantly higher on the Intensity scale than did adolescent females, M528.18, SD54.12 vs.
M523.94, SD54.08, respectively [ F(1347)5107.93, p,.001; η25.24]. Males showed significantly higher scores
on AISS total score than did females, M544.83, SD55.57 vs. M539.17, SD55.51, respectively [ F(1347)588.20,
p,0.001; η250.20].
Construct/Factor Analytic
The EQS 6.1 confirmatory factor analysis carried out by Smorti and Guarnieri (2013) revealed an unsatisfactory
goodness-of-fit for the full 20-item AISS (CFI 571, and SRMSR 50.07), but the scale of 17 items obtained satisfac-
tory values (CFI 591, and SRMSR 50.05).
Criterion/Predictive
The AISS total score correlated significantly with risky behaviors including: driving while intoxicated (0.24),
sex with someone not known well known (0.30), and vandalism (0.33) ( Arnett, 1994 ).
Location
Arnett, J. (1994). Sensation seeking: A new conceptualization and a new scale. Personality and Individual
Differences, 16 , 289/C0296.
Results and Comments
The AISS represents a new conceptualization of sensation seeking focused on high sensation seekers’ need for
stimulation novelty and intensity that is useful for exploring its link with different types of risky behaviors.
Although this scale contains no items on risky behaviors, the AISS subscales were associated with risky driving
and alcohol use.
AISS SAMPLE ITEMS
Directions: For each item, indicate which response
best applies to you:
20 items using 4-point scales (1 5describes me very
well to 4 5does not describe me at all)
Two sub-scales: Novelty (1) and Intensity (2). Examples:1.I can see how it would be interesting to marry
someone from a foreign country. (Novelty)
2.When I listen to music, I like it to be loud. (Intensity)
Note: Reproduced with permission.
Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (BSSS)
(Hoyle et al., 2002 ).
Variable
The BSSS measures sensation seeking tendencies.
Description
The need for a brief SSS representing all four SSS facets led Hoyle et al. (2002) to devise an 8-item BSSS with
two items for each facet. They avoided items with alcohol or drug content. The facets are not scored but a Total
SSS is used with a 5-point Likert-type response format for the items. The Brief Sensation Seeking Scale was cre-
ated by adapting items from the SSS-V ( Zuckerman, 1994 ) and a set of items derived from the SSS-V but tailored375 OTHER SENSATION SEEKING SCALES
III. EMOTION REGULATION