Scale Overview
The Sexuality of Women Survey – SWS (Selected Likert Items) was developed by Carol Rinkleib Ellison, Bernie Zilbergeld (2000). It is designed to measure Female sexuality, family of origin influences, and relationship dynamics. The scale is intended for use with Adult women.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 12 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Family of Origin, Sexual Partners.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Family of Origin |
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 |
9 |
| Sexual Partners |
10,11,12 |
3 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Not Applicable to my experience (NA), 1 = Strongly Disagree, 2 = Disagree, 3 = Slightly Disagree, 4 = Equally Agree and Disagree, 5 = Slightly Agree, 6 = Agree, 7 = Strongly Agree.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 1 to 7. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Agreement / Negative Experience: 1 – 3
- Moderate Agreement / Mixed Experience: 4 – 5
- High Agreement / Positive Experience: 6 – 7
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not available.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.