Scale Overview
The Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire – SPSRQ was developed by Torrubia, R., Ávila, C., Moltó, J., & Caseras, X. (2001). It is designed to measure Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 48 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Sensitivity to Punishment, Sensitivity to Reward.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Sensitivity to Punishment |
1,3,5,7,9,11,13,15,17,19,21,23,25,27,29,31,33,35,37,39,41,43,45,47 |
24 |
| Sensitivity to Reward |
2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20,22,24,26,28,30,32,34,36,38,40,42,44,46,48 |
24 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a dichotomous Yes/No format.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 24. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Sensitivity: 0 – 8
- Moderate Sensitivity: 9 – 16
- High Sensitivity: 17 – 24
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Sensitivity to Punishment: 0.82-0.83; Sensitivity to Reward: 0.75-0.78.
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.