McCroskey Shyness Scale – SS
A self-report measure designed to assess shyness, conceptualized as the actual communication behavior of reduced talking.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The McCroskey Shyness Scale – SS was developed by James C. McCroskey & Virginia P. Richmond (1982). It is designed to measure Shyness. The scale is intended for use with Adults and adolescents.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 14 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
The scale includes 7 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 14 to 70. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low level of shyness: 14 – 31
- Moderate level of shyness: 32 – 52
- High level of shyness: 53 – 70
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of >.90.
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.