Interpersonal Communication Motives – ICM
Measures the primary motives and reasons why individuals choose to engage in interpersonal communication.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Interpersonal Communication Motives – ICM was developed by Rebecca B. Rubin, Elizabeth M. Perse, Carole A. Barbato (1988). It is designed to measure Interpersonal Communication Motives. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 28 items organized into 6 factors/subscales: Pleasure, Affection, Inclusion, Escape, Relaxation, Control.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Pleasure | 1,5,6,11,13,16,17,25 | 8 |
| Affection | 3,20,22,24,26 | 5 |
| Inclusion | 2,7,18,23 | 4 |
| Escape | 14,15,19,21 | 4 |
| Relaxation | 8,9,27,28 | 4 |
| Control | 4,10,12 | 3 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Not at all, 2 = Not much, 3 = Somewhat, 4 = A lot, 5 = Exactly.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Pleasure (a = .97), Affection (a = .91), Inclusion (a = .91), Escape (a = .85), Relaxation (a = .96), Control (a = .81).
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.