Acquiring Motives Questionnaire (AMQ)

Acquiring Motives Questionnaire (AMQ)

Introduction

The Acquiring Motives Questionnaire (AMQ) is a self-report instrument designed to assess the underlying motivations for acquiring objects (e.g., products, free items). The questionnaire explores both positive and negative motivations, categorized into specific subscales.

I. Scale Items and Response Format

Participants are asked to respond to the following statements using a 5-point rating scale:

• 0 = Never

• 1 = Rarely

• 2 = Sometimes

• 3 = Frequently

• 4 = Very Often

The items are as follows:

1. I ACQUIRE objects because: I want to give them to the right person.

2. They allow me to gain skills or knowledge.

3. I like spending money on myself.

4. I enjoy organizing them into collections.

5. I like a good bargain.

6. Cheap things make me feel thrifty.

7. I could help someone with them.

8. I would like to preserve historical artifacts.

9. I like to learn from historical items.

10. I can use them to reward myself for my achievements.

11. I deserve them.

12. I can use them to make others feel good.

13. They allow me to feel connected to history.

14. They look stunning.

15. People will respect me for having them.

16. It allows me to save money when they are free or on sale.

17. I like owning collectibles.

18. They show others that I am interesting.

19. I like discounted products.

20. Others may feel grateful when they use them.

21. I like beautiful things.

22. They help me feel like I belong.

23. I can use them to impress others.

24. I want to display them as part of my collection.

25. I want the information they contain.

26. I like caring for historical objects.

27. Buying gifts for myself makes me feel good.

28. I’d like to add them to my collection.

29. I like the way they look.

30. I like stylish things.

31. I can express myself with them.

32. They are a part of me.

33. They fill me with purpose.

34. I want things that represent my self-identity.

35. I will use the information they contain.

36. I don’t want to worry if I’ll need them in the future.

37. I can comfort myself with them.

38. I don’t want to forget the memories that these possessions represent.

39. If I don’t have them, I will forget someone important.

40. I am uncertain about whether they will be needed.

41. I can’t handle an imperfect set of items.

42. I might regret not owning them.

43. I won’t be able to enjoy my collection unless it’s complete.

44. People will think I’m unsuccessful without them.

45. I don’t like having an incomplete set of items.

46. I want them to distract myself from stressful concerns.

47. I need them so I don’t forget something personally significant.

48. If I don’t own them, others might ignore me.

49. If I don’t, I might displease others.

50. I need them to remember the places I have been.

51. People will think I’m boring without them.

52. I want to use them when feeling distressed.

53. I need them to make me feel better.

54. I cannot appreciate an incomplete collection.

55. I worry that I’ll need them.

II. Scoring Instructions

The AMQ yields scores on 13 subscales, calculated as the mean of the items within each scale. The subscales are categorized as either “Positive” or “Negative,” indicating whether the motivation is driven by the pursuit of positive emotions or the avoidance of negative emotions, respectively.

A. Positive Motives:

• Positive Social: (Items 15 + 18 + 22 + 23) / 4

  • Gaining social rewards and a sense of belonging.

• Positive Sales: (Items 5 + 6 + 16 + 19) / 4

  • Enjoying bargains and sales.

• Positive Reward: (Items 3 + 10 + 11 + 27) / 4

  • Self-gifting and rewarding oneself for achievements.

• Positive Use/Info: (Items 2 + 25 + 35) / 3

  • Wanting useful objects that contain information.

• Positive Identity: (Items 31 + 32 + 33 + 34) / 4

  • Wanting objects that represent one’s self-identity.

• Positive Historical: (Items 8 + 9 + 13 + 26) / 4

  • Wanting to preserve antiques and historical objects.

• Positive Helping Others: (Items 1 + 7 + 12 + 20) / 4

  • Wanting to help others and give gifts.

• Positive Collecting: (Items 4 + 17 + 24 + 28) / 4

  • Enjoying building collections.

• Positive Beauty: (Items 14 + 21 + 29 + 30) / 4

  • Liking objects for their aesthetic qualities.

B. Negative Motives:

• Negative Social: (Items 44 + 48 + 49 + 51) / 4

  • Avoiding unwanted social experiences.

• Negative Sentimental: (Items 38 + 39 + 47 + 50) / 4

  • Not wanting to forget sentimental things

• Negative Mistakes: (Items 36 + 40 + 42 + 55) / 4

  • Avoiding mistakes about whether objects are needed.

• Negative Coping: (Items 37 + 46 + 52 + 53) / 4

  • Coping with negative emotions.

• Negative Collecting: (Items 41 + 43 + 45 + 54) / 4

  • Avoiding incomplete collections/sets.