Metacognitions Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30)
Measures individual differences in metacognitive beliefs, judgments, and monitoring tendencies associated with psychological disorders.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Metacognitions Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30) was developed by Adrian Wells & Elizabeth Cartwright-Hatton (2004). It is designed to measure Metacognition. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 30 items organized into 5 factors/subscales: Cognitive Confidence, Positive Beliefs about Worry, Cognitive Self-Consciousness, Negative Beliefs about Uncontrollability and Danger, Need to Control Thoughts.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Confidence | 8,14,17,24,26,29 | 6 |
| Positive Beliefs about Worry | 1,7,10,19,23,28 | 6 |
| Cognitive Self-Consciousness | 3,5,12,16,18,30 | 6 |
| Negative Beliefs about Uncontrollability and Danger | 2,4,9,11,15,21 | 6 |
| Need to Control Thoughts | 6,13,20,22,25,27 | 6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Do not agree, 2 = Agree slightly, 3 = Agree moderately, 4 = Agree very much.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 30 to 120. Interpretation guidelines:
- Total Score Range (higher scores indicate higher levels of unhelpful metacognitions): 30 – 120
- Subscale Score Range (calculated per subscale): 6 – 24
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Good internal consistency across subscales.
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.