Revised Self-Monitoring Scale – RSMS
Measures an individual's ability to modify their self-presentation and their sensitivity to the expressive behavior of others.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Revised Self-Monitoring Scale – RSMS was developed by R. D. Lennox & R. N. Wolfe (1984). It is designed to measure Self-Monitoring. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 13 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Ability to modify self-presentation, Sensitivity to expressive behavior of others.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Ability to modify self-presentation | 1,3,7,9,10,12,13 | 7 |
| Sensitivity to expressive behavior of others | 2,4,5,6,8,11 | 6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Certainly, always false, 1 = Generally false, 2 = Somewhat false, 3 = Somewhat true, 4 = Generally true, 5 = Certainly, always true.
The scale includes 2 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 0 to 65. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Self-Monitoring: 0 – 21
- Moderate Self-Monitoring: 22 – 43
- High Self-Monitoring: 44 – 65
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Total scale alpha = 0.84, Ability to modify self-presentation alpha = 0.77, Sensitivity to expressive behavior of others alpha = 0.70.
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.