Boredom Proneness Scale

Boredom Proneness Scale

The Boredom Proneness Scale (BPS) is a self-report measure of boredom proneness. It was developed by Farmer and Sundberg (1986) to assess individual differences in the tendency to experience boredom. The BPS has been used in a variety of research studies and clinical settings to assess boredom proneness.

What is the Boredom Proneness Scale?

The BPS is a 28-item self-report measure of boredom proneness. The items on the BPS assess the following aspects of boredom:

  • Lack of interest in activities
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Feeling restless and fidgety
  • Feeling like time is passing slowly
  • Feeling like there is nothing to do
  • Feeling like life is boring

How is the Boredom Proneness Scale scored?

The BPS is scored by summing the item scores. The total score can range from 28 to 168, with higher scores indicating a greater tendency to experience boredom.

What is the reliability and validity of the Boredom Proneness Scale?

The BPS has good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and discriminant validity. Internal consistency refers to the extent to which the items on a measure are related to each other. Test-retest reliability refers to the extent to which a measure produces consistent results when it is administered to the same people on different occasions. Discriminant validity refers to the extent to which a measure is able to distinguish between different constructs.

How is the Boredom Proneness Scale used?

The BPS can be used for a variety of purposes, including:

  • Diagnosis: The BPS can be used to help diagnose boredom.
  • Assessment: The BPS can be used to assess the severity of boredom.
  • Treatment planning: The BPS can be used to help develop a treatment plan for boredom.
  • Monitoring progress: The BPS can be used to monitor progress in treatment for boredom.

What are the limitations of the Boredom Proneness Scale?

The BPS has a few limitations, including:

  • It is not a diagnostic tool. The BPS should not be used to diagnose boredom.
  • It is not a comprehensive measure of boredom. The BPS only measures a limited number of aspects of boredom.
  • It can be time-consuming to complete. The BPS takes about 10 minutes to complete.

Conclusion

The BPS is a useful tool for assessing boredom proneness. It is reliable and valid, and it has been used in a variety of research studies and clinical settings.

References

  • Farmer, R., & Sundberg, N. D. (1986). Boredom proneness scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 50, 403-409.
  • Vodanovich, S. J. (2006). Development and validation of a brief boredom proneness scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 87, 178-192.
  • Jackson, T., & Ekkekakis, P. (2009). Boredom proneness and exercise: A review. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 31, 284-300.

Boredom Proneness Scale (BPS)

Authors: Farmer and Sundberg (1986).
Copy of Instrument

The statements can be answered using a true-false response (the originals format used) or with a 7-point format from “1” (highly disagree) used in recent research.

1 _____ 1. It is easy for me to concentrate on my activities. TRUE FALSE
2 _____ 2. Frequently when I am working I find myself worrying about other things.
3 _____ 3. Time always seems to be passing slowly.
4 _____ 4. I often find myself at “loose ends”‚ not knowing what to do.
5 _____ 5. I am often trapped in situations where I have to do meaningless things.
6 _____ 6. ha‎ving to look at someone’s home movies or travel slides bores me tremendously.
7 _____ 7. I have projects in mind all the time‚ things to do.
8 _____ 8. I find it easy to entertain myself.
9 _____ 9. Many things I have to do are repetitive and monotonous.
10 _____ 10. It takes more stimulation to get me going than most people.
11 _____ 11. I get a kick out of most things I do.
12 _____ 12. I am seldom excited about my work.
13 _____ 13. In any situation I can usually find something to do or see to keep me interested.
14 _____ 14. Much of the time I just sit around doing nothing.
15 _____ 15. I am good at waiting patiently.

16 _____ 16. I often find myself with nothing to do‚ time on my hands.
17 _____ 17. In situations where I have to wait‚ such as a line I get very restless.
18 _____ 18. I often wake up with a new idea.
19 _____ 19. It would be very hard for me to find a job that is exciting enough.
20 _____ 20. I would like more challenging things to do in life.
21 _____ 21. I feel that I am working below my abilities most of the time.
22 _____ 22. Many people would say that I am a creative or imaginative person.
23 _____ 23. I have so many interests‚ I don’t have time to do everything.
24 _____ 24. Among my friends‚ I am the one who keeps doing something the longest.
25 _____ 25. Unless I am doing something exciting‚ even dangerous‚ I feel half-dead and dull.
26 _____ 26. It takes a lot of change and variety to keep me really happy.
27 _____ 27. It seems that the same things are on television or the movies all the time; it’s getting old.
28 _____ 28. When I was young‚ I was often in monotonous and tiresome situations.

Validity and Reliability

According to studies performed by several different sources – Vodanovic‚ Ahmed‚ Watt – the BPS is a valid and reliable test. These studies showed alpha scores for the internal consistency and the test-retest reliability at 0.83 and 0.79 respectively.

 

References

De Raad‚ B.(1994) An expedition in search of fifth universal factor: Key issues in the lexical approach. European Journal of Personality 8‚ 229-250.

Dunning‚ D. (1999). A newer look: Motiviated social cognition and the schmatic representation of social concepts. Psychological Inquiry‚ 10‚ 1-11.

Farmer‚ R.‚ & Sundberg‚ N.D. (1986). Boredom proneness: The development and correlates of a new scale. Journal of Personality Assessment‚ 50‚ 4-17

Rathunde‚ K. (2001). Family context and the development of undivided interest: A longitudinal study of family support and hallenge and adolescents’ quality of experience. Applied Developmental Science‚ 5‚ 158-171

Pryor‚ J.B.‚ & Kriss‚ M. (1977).   The cognitive dynamics of salience in the attribution process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology‚ 35‚ 49-55.

 

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