Scale Overview
The Metacognitions Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30) was developed by Adrian Wells & S. Cartwright-Hatton (2004). It is designed to measure Metacognition. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 30 items organized into 5 factors/subscales: Cognitive Confidence, Positive Beliefs about Worry, Cognitive Self-Consciousness, Negative Beliefs about Uncontrollability and Danger, Need to Control Thoughts.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Cognitive Confidence |
8,14,17,24,26,29 |
6 |
| Positive Beliefs about Worry |
1,7,10,19,23,28 |
6 |
| Cognitive Self-Consciousness |
3,5,12,16,18,30 |
6 |
| Negative Beliefs about Uncontrollability and Danger |
2,4,9,11,15,21 |
6 |
| Need to Control Thoughts |
6,13,20,22,25,27 |
6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Do not agree, 2 = Agree slightly, 3 = Agree moderately, 4 = Agree very much.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 30 to 120. Interpretation guidelines:
- Total Score Range (higher scores indicate higher levels of unhelpful metacognitions): 30 – 120
- Subscale Score Range: 6 – 24
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Good internal consistency.
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.