Scale Overview
The Heightened Vigilance Scale – HVS was developed by David R. Williams (2012). It is designed to measure Heightened Vigilance. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 6 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Very often, 2 = Fairly often, 3 = Not too often, 4 = Hardly ever, 5 = Never.
Scoring
Item scores are averaged to produce a mean score.
Total scores range from 1 to 5. Interpretation guidelines:
- High Vigilance: 1 – 2
- Moderate Vigilance: 3 – 3
- Low Vigilance: 4 – 5
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of alpha = .72 (for abbreviated 4-item version).
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 2 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.