Aggression Questionnaire (AQ)
A 34-item self-report scale designed to assess physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger, hostility, and indirect aggression.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Aggression Questionnaire (AQ) was developed by Arnold H. Buss & W. L. Warren (2000). It is designed to measure Aggression. The scale is intended for use with Individuals aged 9 to 88.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 34 items organized into 5 factors/subscales: Physical Aggression, Verbal Aggression, Anger, Hostility, Indirect Aggression.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Aggression | 8,10,11,17,23,24,25,27 | 8 |
| Verbal Aggression | 1,4,6,20,26 | 5 |
| Anger | 3,7,12,19,22,29,32 | 7 |
| Hostility | 2,5,9,16,21,28,31,33 | 8 |
| Indirect Aggression | 13,14,15,18,30,34 | 6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Not at all like me, 2 = Slightly like me, 3 = Moderately like me, 4 = Very much like me, 5 = Completely like me.
The scale includes 1 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 34 to 170. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Aggression: 34 – 68
- Moderate Aggression: 69 – 102
- High Aggression: 103 – 136
- Very High Aggression: 137 – 170
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of High internal consistency and validated factor structure.
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.