Impression Management Styles Scale – IMS
Measures the frequency with which individuals use different impression management strategies (self-promotion, ingratiation, exemplification, intimidation, and supplication) in organizational settings.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Impression Management Styles Scale – IMS was developed by Mark C. Bolino & William H. Turnley (1999). It is designed to measure Impression Management. The scale is intended for use with Employees and working adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 22 items organized into 5 factors/subscales: Self-Promotion, Ingratiation, Exemplification, Intimidation, Supplication.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Promotion | 1,2,3,4 | 4 |
| Ingratiation | 5,6,7,8 | 4 |
| Exemplification | 9,10,11,12 | 4 |
| Intimidation | 13,14,15,16,17 | 5 |
| Supplication | 18,19,20,21,22 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Never behave this way, 2 = Very rarely behave this way, 3 = Occasionally behave this way, 4 = Sometimes behave this way, 5 = Often behave this way.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 1 to 5. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low frequency of use: 1 – 2
- Moderate frequency of use: 3 – 3
- High frequency of use: 4 – 5
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Self-Promotion (α=0.88-0.92), Ingratiation (α=0.80-0.91), Exemplification (α=0.76-0.81), Intimidation (α=0.84-0.89), Supplication (α=0.93).
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.