and false. 4 5Most or probably true. 5 5Definitely
true.
Examples :
1. I often try new things for fun or thrills even if
most people feel it is a waste of time (Exploratory
Excitability)
10. I often do things based on how I feel at the
moment without thinking about how they were
done in the past (Impulsiveness)
14. I am more reserved and controlled than most
people (Extravagance)44. I like it when people can do whatever they
want without strict rules and regulations
(Disorderliness)
Scoring keys :
NS1 (10 items) 51.
NS2 (9 items) 510.
NS3 (9 ı ´tems)514 (inverse).
NS4 (7 items) 544.
NS5NS11NS21NS31NS4.
Note: Reproduced with permission.
Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking (AISS)
(Arnett, 1994 ).
Variable
The AISS measures sensation seeking tendencies.
Description
The last definition of sensation seeking includes both intensity and novelty as qualities of stimulation that
were particularly rewarding for high sensation seekers (e.g., Zuckerman, 1994 ). The AISS was designed to assess
the personality trait of sensation seeking, which is presumed to contribute to risk preferences. Sensation seeking
is defined as a need for novel and intense stimulation. Arnett (1994) attempted to incorporate these two qualities
in separate subscales for his SS scale. He deliberately avoided items with content involving ‘ illegal or norm-
breaking behavior ’ like those in the SSS-V (but eliminated in the ZKPQ and in its subsequent forms). The Arnett
Inventory of Sensation Seeking ( Arnett, 1994 ) is a 20-item self-report measure of sensation seeking based on a
conceptualization of sensation seeking that includes two dimensions: need for intense stimulation and need for
novel stimulation.
Sample
Arnett (1994) used several samples: The first sample consisted of 116 adolescents aged 16 /C018 years (54 boys
and 62 girls), the second sample consisted of 139 adolescents aged 16 /C018 years (67 boys and 72 girls), and the
third sample comprised 38 adults aged 41 /C059 years.
Reliability
Internal Consistency
The Cronbach alpha coefficient was 0.70 for the total scale, 0.64 for the Intensity subscale, and 0.50 for the
Novelty subscale ( Arnett, 1994 ).Roth (2003) in Germany reported lower alpha coefficients: 0.61 for the Total
score, 0.53 for Intensity and 0.52 for Novelty. In a recent study by Smorti and Guarnieri (2013) in Italy, alpha coef-
ficients ranged from 0.56 to 0.71.
Test/C0Retest
The three month test /C0retest stability coefficients exceeded 0.80 ( Arnett, 1994 ).
Validity
Convergent/Concurrent
AISS scales correlated with total SSS-V scales 0.35 (in tensity), 0.33 (Novelty) and AISS total score (0.41).
However among the subscale correlations of the two tests SSS-Disinhibition correlated only with AISS Intensity
(0.41) and SSS-Experience Seeking correlated only wit h AISS Novelty. It appears that the distinction between374 13. MEASURES OF SENSATION SEEKING
III. EMOTION REGULATION