Metacognition Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30)

Instructions:

This questionnaire is concerned with beliefs people have about their thinking. Listed below are a number of beliefs that people have expressed. Please read each item and indicate how much you generally agree with it.

Please respond to all the items, there are no right or wrong answers.

Do not agree Agree slightly Agree moderately Agree very much
Worrying helps me to avoid problems in the future 1 2 3 4
My worrying is dangerous for me 1 2 3 4
I think a lot about my thoughts 1 2 3 4
I could make myself sick with worrying 1 2 3 4
I am aware of the way my mind works when I am thinking through a problem 1 2 3 4
If I did not control a worrying thought, 1 2 3 4
and then it happened, it would be my fault
I need to worry in order to remain organised 1 2 3 4
I have little confidence in my memory for words and names 1 2 3 4
My worrying thoughts persist, no matter how I try to stop them 1 2 3 4
Worrying helps me to get things sorted out in my mind 1 2 3 4
I cannot ignore my worrying thoughts 1 2 3 4
I monitor my thoughts 1 2 3 4
I should be in control of my thoughts all of the time 1 2 3 4
My memory can mislead me at times 1 2 3 4
My worrying could make me go mad 1 2 3 4
Do not agree Agree slightly Agree moderately Agree very much
I am constantly aware of my thinking 1 2 3 4
I have a poor memory 1 2 3 4
I pay close attention to the way my mind works 1 2 3 4
Worrying helps me cope 1 2 3 4
Not being able to control my thoughts is a sign of weakness 1 2 3 4
When I start worrying, I cannot stop 1 2 3 4
I will be punished for not controlling certain thoughts 1 2 3 4
Worrying help me to solve problems 1 2 3 4
I have little confidence in my memory for places 1 2 3 4
It is bad to think certain thoughts 1 2 3 4
I do not trust my memory 1 2 3 4
If I could not control my thoughts, I would not be able to function 1 2 3 4
I need to worry, in order to work well 1 2 3 4
I have little confidence in my memory for actions 1 2 3 4
I constantly examine my thoughts 1 2 3 4

Description

The MCQ-30 is a short version of the original MCQ and assesses individual differences in five factors important in the metacognitive model of psychological disorders. In particular, unhelpful metacognitions may contribute to obsessive and compulsive symptoms, pathological worry and underpin trait anxiety. The five subscales of the MCQ-30 are: cognitive confidence, positive beliefs about worry, cognitive self-consciousness, negative beliefs about uncontrollability of thoughts and danger, and beliefs about the need to control thoughts.

Validity and Reliability

The MCQ-30 as a scale has good internal consistency, as do its five subscales (Wells & Cartweight-Hatton, 2004). In the adult community sample (n=182) the measure demonstrated convergent validity by showing positive correlations to obsessive and compulsive symptoms, pathological worry and trait anxiety. Four out of the five subscales also show good test-retest reliability, with the “negative beliefs about uncontrollability of thoughts and danger” subscale the exception.

Interpretation

Subscale scores range from 6 to 24, and total scores range from 30 to 120, with higher scores indicating higher levels of unhelpful metacognitions (for example, high scores on “cognitive confidence” indicates distrust of memory and other unhelpful beliefs about their cognition). Results are also presented as percentiles based on a normative community sample (Wells & Cartweight-Hatton, 2004). Subscales are calculated by summing the following items: –
(Lack of) Cognitive Confidence: 8, 14, 17, 24, 26 and 29 –
Positive Beliefs about Worry: 1, 7, 10, 19, 23 and 28 –
Cognitive Self-Consciousness: 3, 5, 12, 16, 18 and 30 –
Negative Beliefs about Uncontrollability and Danger: 2, 4, 9, 11, 15 and 21 –
Need to Control Thoughts: 6, 13, 20, 22, 25 and 27

Developer

Wells, A., & Cartwright-Hatton, S. (2004). A short form of the metacognitions questionnaire: Properties of the MCQ-30. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 42(4), 385-396. doi:10.1016/S0005-7967(03)00147-5

Number Of Questions

30

References

Wells, A., & Cartwright-Hatton, S. (2004). A short form of the metacognitions questionnaire: Properties of the MCQ-30. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 42(4), 385-396. doi:10.1016/S0005-7967(03)00147-5

Developer Reference:

Wells, A., & Cartwright-Hatton, S. (2004). A short form of the metacognitions questionnaire: Properties of the MCQ-30. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 42(4), 385-396. doi:10.1016/S0005-7967(03)00147-5

This content is licensed under a CC-BY license. The CC-BY licenses grant rights of use the scales in your studies (the measurement instrument and its documentation), but do not replace copyright. This remains with the copyright holder, and you have to cite us as the source.

Mohammed Looti, PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES (2023) Metacognition Questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30). Retrieved from https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/metacognition-questionnaire-30-mcq-30/. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.31575.96163

Related terms:

  1. Metacognitions questionnaire-30 (MCQ-30)
  2. Metacognition
  3. METACOGNITION
  4. The Organizational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ)
  5. The Problems in Schools Questionnaire (PIS)
  6. Social Support Questionnaire
  7. Wall Satisfaction Questionnaire
  8. Cambridge Friendship Questionnaire (FQ) – Self-administered
  9. Retrospective Bulling Questionnaire
  10. Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire (4DSQ)