Four Needs Questionnaire – FNQ
Measures the threat to four fundamental needs (belonging, control, self-esteem, and meaningful existence) following a social exclusion paradigm.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Four Needs Questionnaire – FNQ was developed by Lisa Zadro, Kipling D. Williams, & R. Richardson (2004). It is designed to measure Basic Needs Threat. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 14 items organized into 5 factors/subscales: Belonging, Control, Self-Esteem, Meaningful Existence, Affect.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Belonging | 1,2,3 | 3 |
| Control | 4,5,6,10 | 4 |
| Self-Esteem | 7,8,9 | 3 |
| Meaningful Existence | 11,12 | 2 |
| Affect | 13,14 | 2 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Not at All, 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5 = 5, 6 = 6, 7 = 7, 8 = 8, 9 = Very Much So.
The scale includes 8 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 14 to 126. Interpretation guidelines:
- High Threat (Low Need Satisfaction): 14 – 56
- Moderate Threat (Moderate Need Satisfaction): 57 – 98
- Low Threat (High Need Satisfaction): 99 – 126
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Belonging (a = .74), Control (a = .72), Self-Esteem (a = .70), Meaningful Existence (a = .66).
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.