Exercise Causality Orientations Scale – ECOS
Measures individual differences in the strength of autonomy, control, and impersonal causality orientations within the context of exercise.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Exercise Causality Orientations Scale – ECOS was developed by Rose, E. A., Markland, D., & Parfitt, G. (2001). It is designed to measure Exercise Causality Orientations. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 21 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Autonomy, Control, Impersonal.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Autonomy | 2,5,8,12,13,17,21 | 7 |
| Control | 1,6,7,10,14,16,19 | 7 |
| Impersonal | 3,4,9,11,15,18,20 | 7 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Very unlikely, 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5 = 5, 6 = 6, 7 = Very likely.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 7 to 49. Interpretation guidelines:
- Subscale Score Range (Sum of items for each orientation): 7 – 49
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified in the source text.
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.