Ostracism Experience Scale (OES)
Measures the subjective frequency of experiencing ostracism, specifically being ignored and excluded by others.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Ostracism Experience Scale (OES) was developed by Adrienne R. Carter-Sowell (2010). It is designed to measure Ostracism. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 8 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Excluded, Ignored.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Excluded | 1,2,4,5 | 4 |
| Ignored | 3,6,7,8 | 4 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Hardly ever, 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5 = 5, 6 = 6, 7 = Almost always.
Scoring
Item scores are averaged to produce a mean score.
Total scores range from 1 to 7. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Ostracism: 1 – 2
- Moderate Ostracism: 3 – 5
- High Ostracism: 6 – 7
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.92.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 3 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.