Emotion Vignettes Scale (EVS)

Abstract

The Emotion Vignettes Scale (EVS), as detailed by Curlee, McIntosh, & Ahrens in 2023, was formulated to serve as a new method for measuring the construct of gratitude. The primary aim of this instrument was to support a study focused on differentiating between gratitude experienced with a benefactor and gratitude experienced without a benefactor. The scale was developed and tested within a sample population of undergraduate students attending a private university in the mid-Atlantic region. The EVS consists of 16 distinct items that were created by the authors for this specific research. The results pertaining to the reliability and validity of these 16 items were thoroughly reported for the study sample.

Keywords

Emotion Vignettes; Gratitude Vignette without a Benefactor; Benefactor Driven Gratitude Vignette; Incremental Predictive Validity, Emotions; Gratitude; Emotional State Measures

Authors

Curlee, Millicent S.; McIntosh, Elizabeth; Ahrens, Anthony H.

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Purpose

The expressed intention for the creation of this scale is to provide a tool that can effectively distinguish between feelings of gratitude that are directed towards a specific benefactor and feelings of gratitude that arise in the absence of a benefactor.

Construct

The primary psychological construct this instrument is designed to measure is Gratitude.

Validity

The validity of the Emotion Vignettes Scale was assessed with the following results. For Discriminant Validity, the scale did not successfully demonstrate the ability to differentially predict gratitude in response to prompts featuring a benefactor versus those without one, which was noted as a limitation of the instrument. In terms of Incremental Predictive Validity, it was found that the vignettes without a benefactor were able to predict gratitude at the moment of the event, even when controlling for the scores from the Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ-6; McCullough et al., 2002) and the results from the benefactor-driven vignettes.

Reliability

The reliability of the scale was evaluated for its internal consistency. The gratitude scores from vignettes that did not feature a benefactor were combined to form a subscale identified as Gratitude vignette without a benefactor (NBG-V). This subscale demonstrated good internal consistency with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of .812. Similarly, five vignettes that did include a benefactor were used to create a Benefactor driven gratitude vignette (BG-V) subscale. This second subscale also showed good internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.801.

Factor Analysis

No data is Available.

Instrument

• Test Type: This is an Original instrument.

• Format: Participants are presented with 16 different scenarios, or vignettes. For each scenario, they are asked to rate the likelihood that they would experience a range of emotions, including calm, gratitude, obligation, relief, challenge, happiness, pride, and surprise. The ratings are provided on a 7-point Likert scale, where 1 corresponds to “not likely” and 7 corresponds to “very likely.” Within the 16 items, six vignettes are designed with no benefactor, five vignettes explicitly include a benefactor, and the remaining vignettes serve as filler items.

• Language Available: English

• Population Group: Human; Male; Female

• Age Group: Adulthood (18 years and older)

• Population Details: The instrument was tested on a population of undergraduate students located in the United States.

• Test Methodology: The development and evaluation of this instrument involved assessments of Test Validity, including Discriminant Validity and Predictive Validity, as well as Test Reliability, specifically focusing on Internal Consistency.

Keywords

Emotion Vignettes; Gratitude Vignette without a Benefactor; Benefactor Driven Gratitude Vignette; Incremental Predictive Validity

Authors

• Curlee, Millicent S.

  • Author ORCID Identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1925-0520

  • Affiliation: American University, Department of Psychology

• McIntosh, Elizabeth

  • Affiliation: American University, Department of Psychology

• Ahrens, Anthony H.

  • Affiliation: American University, Department of Psychology

  • Email Address: [email protected]

  • Correspondence Address: Ahrens, Anthony H.: American University, Department of Psychology, Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 20016-8007, [email protected]

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

• Permissions: To use this scale, interested parties should contact the Corresponding Author, Anthony H. Ahrens.

• Fee: The instrument is not commercial and there is no fee for its use.

• Test Year: 2023

Reference’s

Curlee, M. S., McIntosh, E., & Ahrens, A. H. (2023). What is gratitude without a benefactor? A daily diary approach. Cognition and Emotion, 37(3), 384–396. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2022.2162005

Items of the Emotion Vignettes Scale

The specific test items for this measure are not available.