Scale Overview
The Acceptance of Others Scale – AOS was developed by William F. Fey (1955). It is designed to measure Acceptance of others and perceived acceptability to others. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 25 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Acceptance of Others, Acceptability to Others.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Acceptance of Others |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20 |
20 |
| Acceptability to Others |
21,22,23,24,25 |
5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Almost always, 2 = Usually, 3 = Sometimes, 4 = Seldom, 5 = Very rarely.
The scale includes 8 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 25 to 125. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Acceptance/Acceptability: 25 – 58
- Moderate Acceptance/Acceptability: 59 – 91
- High Acceptance/Acceptability: 92 – 125
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.