Exchange Orientation Scale – EOS
Measures an individual's expectation of immediate reciprocity and tracking of benefits and debts in close relationships.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Exchange Orientation Scale – EOS was developed by Susan Sprecher (1998). It is designed to measure Exchange Orientation. The scale is intended for use with Adults in romantic relationships.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 39 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Under-benefiting Exchange Orientation, Over-benefiting Exchange Orientation.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Under-benefiting Exchange Orientation | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20 | 20 |
| Over-benefiting Exchange Orientation | 21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39 | 19 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
The scale includes 4 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 39 to 195. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Exchange Orientation: 39 – 90
- Moderate Exchange Orientation: 91 – 143
- High Exchange Orientation: 144 – 195
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Under-benefiting subscale alpha = 0.85, Over-benefiting subscale alpha = 0.81.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 8 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.