Scale Overview
The Positive-Negative Semantic Differential – PN-SMD was developed by Mattson, R. E., Paldino, D., & Johnson, M. D. (2007). It is designed to measure Relationship Satisfaction. The scale is intended for use with Adults in romantic relationships.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 14 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Positive Qualities, Negative Qualities.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Positive Qualities |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7 |
7 |
| Negative Qualities |
8,9,10,11,12,13,14 |
7 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Not at all, 1 = A tiny bit, 2 = A little, 3 = Somewhat, 4 = Mostly, 5 = Very, 6 = Extremely, 7 = Completely.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 49. Interpretation guidelines:
- Subscale score range (calculated separately for Positive and Negative dimensions): 0 – 49
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of High internal consistency.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 3 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.