Scale Overview
The Alcohol Responsibility Scale – ARS was developed by Worell & Timility (1981). It is designed to measure Locus of Control / Alcohol Responsibility. The scale is intended for use with Adults with alcohol use concerns / clinical populations.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 31 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: a = Statement A, b = Statement B.
The scale includes 16 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 31. Interpretation guidelines:
- External Locus of Responsibility: 0 – 10
- Mixed Locus of Responsibility: 11 – 20
- Internal Locus of Responsibility: 21 – 31
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Comparable to Rotter's Locus of Control scale.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.