AIDS Discussion Strategy Scale – ADSS
Measures the types of interpersonal discussion strategies that individuals use when wanting to discuss AIDS with an intimate partner.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The AIDS Discussion Strategy Scale – ADSS was developed by William E. Snell, Jr. & P. D. Finney (1990). It is designed to measure AIDS-related interpersonal discussion strategies. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 72 items organized into 6 factors/subscales: Rational, Manipulation, Withdrawal, Charm, Subtlety, Persistence.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Rational | 2,4,8,9,11,12,14,16,17,18,21,23,25,28,29,31,32,35,37,43,49,53,55,61,65,67 | 26 |
| Manipulation | 5,6,13,20,22,24,27,38,40,42,44,45,48,52,54,57,58,69,70,72 | 20 |
| Withdrawal | 39,51,56,63 | 4 |
| Charm | 9,36,60,64,66 | 5 |
| Subtlety | 3,10,50 | 3 |
| Persistence | 7,41,46,47 | 4 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: -2 = Definitely would not do this, -1 = Might not do this, 0 = Not sure whether I would do this, 1 = Might do this, 2 = Would definitely do this.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from -2 to 2. Interpretation guidelines:
- Definitely would not use this strategy: -2 – -1
- Unlikely to use this strategy: 0 – 0
- Likely to use this strategy: 0 – 1
- Would definitely use this strategy: 1 – 2
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Rational: .96; Manipulation: .92-.93; Withdrawal: .83-.85; Charm: .81-.82; Subtlety: .66-.74; Persistence: .80-.81.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 45 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.