University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale – Alcohol Version (URICA)
Measures an individual's readiness to change their alcohol use behavior across stages of change.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale – Alcohol Version (URICA) was developed by DiClemente, C. C., & Hughes, S. O. (1990). It is designed to measure Readiness to change. The scale is intended for use with Adults with alcohol or substance use problems.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 28 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Precontemplation, Contemplation, Action, Maintenance.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Precontemplation | 1,4,9,11,20,23,26 | 7 |
| Contemplation | 2,7,10,13,17,18,21 | 7 |
| Action | 3,6,8,12,15,22,27 | 7 |
| Maintenance | 5,14,16,19,24,25,28 | 7 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 8 to 20. Interpretation guidelines:
- Precontemplation / Low Readiness: 8 – 11
- Contemplation / Moderate Readiness: 12 – 14
- Action / High Readiness: 15 – 20
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Precontemplation (.69-.75), Contemplation (.73-.81), Action (.74-.83), Maintenance (.74-.86).
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.