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l'rinled ir) thc tlSA
7. 9-5-99
BF-HAvIoRAl. ASSF-SSMIT:N'r
A SimpleVersionof the Rathus
le
Schedu
Assertiveness
lntN A. McConnttcr
Victoria University of Wellingtr.tn, New Zcalnnd
'l'lre
p r e s e n t s t u d y d o c u m e r r t st h e t l e v e l o p n r c t r t< t f a s i n r p l i l i e c lv e r s i o n o f t h e
R a t h u s A s s e r t i v e n e s sS c h e d u l e .T h e r e v i s e c lR a t h u s a n c l t h e o r i g i n a l v e r s i o n t r ' e r e
a { m i n i s t e r e d t o l l 6 u n d e r g r a d u a t es t u d e n t s ;t h e c t t r r e l a t i t l n[ ] e t w e e nt h e t $ o t e s t s
w a s . 9 4 . a n d t h e m e a n s , s t a n d a r d d e v i a t i o n sa n d r e l i a b i l i t y e s t i m a t e sf o r [ ] o t h t e s t s
were ver-v similar. The Flesch Reading Ease formula ancl the Noun Frcquency
N l e t h o c lt l r t h i n c l i c a t e ctlh a t t h e s i r n p l e v c r s i o n w a s s t t b s t a t t t i a l l ye a s i c r t o r e a t l ; r n d
-l'he
u t t i l i t y o [ l l t c n e r v s c h e c l t r l el i r r a
rnore comprehensible than the original.
target population was detnonstratedby finding that only 7%' of a group ol of-l'he
SIIAS
f e n < f e r sc o u l c l r e a d t h e o r i g i n a l t e s t w h i l e 9 7 o / oc < t u l dr e a c lt h e n e w t e s t .
s h o u l d t h e r e l b r e b e u s e f u l w i t h c l i e n t s o f l o w e d u c a t i o n a la t t a i n m e n t
A S I M P L EV E R S I O NO F T H E
R A T H U SA S S E R T I V E N E SSSC H E D U L E
Self-report assertivenessinventories have been extensively useclbtlth
a s s e l e c t i o nd e v i c e sf o r c l i n i c a l r e s e a r c h( e . g . . N l c F a l l & L i l l e s a n c l .1 9 7I )
a n d a s i n c l i c a t o r so f c h a n g e f o l t o w i n g t r e a t m e l t t ( e . g . . L i n e h a n . G o l c l f r i e d , & G o l d f r i e d , 1 9 7 9 ) .O n e i m p o r t a n t c h a r a c t e r i s t i ct h a t d e t e r m r t t e s
t h e u t i l i t y o f a n y s u c h i n v e n t o r y i s i t s r e a d a b i l i t y ;t h i s i s s u ei s o f p a r t i c u l a r
r e l e v a n c et o c l i n i c a l p o p u l a t i o n s .
A n c l r a s i k , H e i m b e r g , E d l u n d , a n d B l a n k e n b e r g( 1 9 8 1 ) h a v e a s s e s s e d
t h e r e a d a b i l i t yo f I I c o m m o n l y u s e d a s s e r t i o ni l r v e n t o r i e sa n d f o u l l d t h a t
t h e s i m p l e s t m e a s u r e sw e r e a t a g r a d e 8 - 9 r e a c l i n gl c v e ' l( l 4 v e i l r s ) .a l l d
therefclre would be too difficult for clients with low educational attainl ocictl Cort{crS e c t i g n so f t l r i s p a p e r w e r e p r e s e n t e d a t t h e N e r v Z e a l a n d P s y c h o l o g i c aS
ence. tlamilton, N.Z'., in August 1982.
'l'he
author rvishes to express his thanks to F.H. Walkey, PsychologyL)cl)artrrrent.
Victoria Unil'ersity of Wellington. for his assistance.
R c c l u e s t sf t t r r e p r i n t s s h o u l d h e a d d r e s s c dt o L A . l v l c C o r n r i c k .P s v c h o l o g yl ) c p i r r t r r r c n t .
Victoria University of Wellington, Private Bag, Wellington, Ncw Zealand.
95
l , l 9 l - . 5 4 0 1 / t il 5
il.{il) t .()()
( b p y r i g h t . ( \ l 9 t l 4 A s s o c i i l ( i o nl i t r A t l v ; t t t c c t t tnet t t l l l c l r r r r i o r ' l h c t a p v
A l l r i g l t l s o l r c p r o t l u c t i o l l i t t a n y -l i r t t l l r e s c l v c ( l
I.A. IVICCC)RI\'ICK
r n e n t . A n a s s e r t i o ni n v e n t o r y w i t h h i g h r e l i a b i l i t ya n c lv a l i d i t y b u t w i t h a
l o w r e a c l i n ga g e w o l l l c l t h e r e f o r eh a v e w i d e u t i l i t y . R a t h e r t l l a n c o n s t r u c t
y c t a n o t h e r n e w m e a s u r et h c a u t h o r c h o s e1 c .pl r o d u c ea s i m p l ev e r s i o no f
t h e I l a t h u s A s s e r t i v e n e s sS c h e d u l e ( R A S ) ( l { a t h u s , 1 9 7 3 ) ,r v h i c h i s a
w i d e l y u s e d a n d p s y c h o r n e t r i c a l lsyo u n d t e s t ( l { a l l , 1 9 7 7 ) .
ME T H OD
R o t h t h e i n s t r u c t i o n sa n d s t i n r u l u si t e m s o f t h e o r i s i n a l l { a t h u s A s s e r t i v c n c s sS c h e c l u l ew e r e e x a m i n e d a n c l w h c r e p o s s i b l e ,r r r u l t i - s y l l a b iacn c l
c o m p l e x w o r d s w e r e s i m p l i f i e d ,s e n t e n c e sw e r e s h o r t e n e dw h e r e t h i s r v a s
p r a c t i c a l . a n d n l o s t r n e t a p h o r sw e r c r e l n o v e d . P a r t i c u l a ra t t e n t i o n u , a s
p a i d t o t h c 'w o r d s t h a t w e r e r e p o r t e dt o b e d i f f i c u l tf o r a n i n i t i a l g r o u p o f
3 2 o f f e n d e r s ( e . g . , t h e w o r d s " c h a r a c t e r i s t i c , "" i n s t i t u t i o n . " a n d " r n e r c h a n d i s e " ) .C a r e w a s t a k e n s o t h a t t h e c o n t e n t o f e q u i v a l e n ti t c n r so f t l r e
o r i g i n a l a n c l t h e r e v i s e dt e s t w e r e m a d e a s s i m i l a r a s p o s s i b l e J. ' h e r e s u l t ing iterns from the revised Ilathus are given in the appendix of this
article.
B o t h v e r s i o n s o f t h e R a t h u s w e r e e v a l u a t e df o r r e a d a b i l i t y u s i n g a
c l u a r t t i t a t i v em e t h o c l , t h e F l e s c h R e a d i r r gE a s e f o r m u l a ( F l e s c h , 1 9 4 9 ) .
a n d a q u a l i t a t i v e r n e t h o d , t h e N o u n F r e q u e n c yM e t h o d ( E l l c y , 1 9 6 9 ) .
'lhese
methods were also chosen because thev have been shon'n to be
g o o c l p r e c l i c t o r so [ t h e c o m p r e h e n s i o nl e v eI o f c v a l u a t e dr n a t e r i a l( E l l e v .
'l'he
1 9 6 9 1A n c l r a s i ke t a l . , 1 9 8l ) .
t e s t sw e r e s u b s e q u c n t l ya c l r n i n i s t e r eicr rl
a c o u n t c r b a l a r r c c do r c l e r t o l l 6 I i r s t y e a r u n d c r g r a d u a t es t u d e n t s .T h i s
g r o u p w a s c h o s e nb e c a u s ei t w a s n e c e s s a r yt o u s e s u b j e c t sw h o w e r e a b l e
t o r e a d b o t h v e r s i o n so f t h e t e s t i n o r c l e r t o e s t a b l i s hc r i t e r i o n v a l i d i t v .
Pearsortproduct nloment correlation cclelficientswere calculateclbetween
total odd and even item scoresfclr each test. between total scoreson both
t e s t s .a r r d b e t w e e n i n d i v i c l u a li t e n t s c o r e so n b o t h t e s t s .
1 ' h e u t i l i t y o f t h e n e w n t e a s u r es u t r s e q u e n t l w
y as assesseb
dy aclnilri s t e r i n g , c l n i l r a n d o r n b a s i s ,e i t h e r t h e r t r i g i n a lo r t h e r e v i s e d R a t h u s t o
64 offenders and calclllating the percentage of sr.rbjectswl'ro cornpleted
all, or all but one, of the items without help beyond the standardizecl
instructions.
R E S U L T SA N D D I S C U S S I O N
T h c S i r n p l e R a t h u s A s s e r t i v e n e s sS c h e d u l e( S R A S ) w a s s u b s t a n t i a l l y
n t o r e r e a d a b l e t h a n t l r e o r i g i n a l . G r a c l e l e v e l s f o r t h e i n s t r u c t i o n sa n d
s t i n t u l u si t e m s w e r e k r w e r e d f r o m l 0 - 1 2 f o r t h e o r i g i n a l l { a t h r - r tso 6 f o r
t h e s i r n p l i e dv e r s i o n u s i n g t h e F l e s c h R e a d i n g E a s e s c o r e . a n d f r o n l a
reading age of over 15 years to 9-10 years using the Noun Frecluency
M e t h o d( E l l e y . l e 6 9 ) .
'fhe
m e a n i n t e r i t e n t c o r r e l a t i o nl r e t w e e nt h e t w o v e r s i o r r so f t h e a s s e r t i v c n e s ss c h e c l u l e sw a s . 7 9 w i t h a l l c o r r e l a t i o n sr e a c h i n s s t a t i s t i c a ls i s -
SIMPLE RAS
n i l i c a n c e( 1 l s . 0 0 1 ; d f : I l 4 ) . T h e c o r r c l a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e t o t a l s c o r e s
'I'hesc
high correlations were evidetrcethat a
on the two tests was .94.
satisfactory degree of ecluivalencehad becn achieved betrveen the tu'tr
nleasures.
'Ihe
correcteclcorrelation between total ocld and even item scorcsrvas
. 9 0 f o r b o t h v e r s i o n so f t h e R a t h u s , i n c l i c a t i n gi c l e n t i c a rl e l i a b i l i t y .T h e s e
r e l i a b i l i t y c o e f f i c i e n t sa r e v e r y s i m i l a r t t t t h o s e r e p o r t e c lb y o t h e r i n v e s t i g a t o r s o f t h e R a t h u s A s s e r t i v e n e s sS c h e d u l e ( H e i r n t l e r g & H a r r i s o n ,
1980; Ilathus & Nevid, 19'77).
'l'o
sirnplify comparisons betrveentotals frurrl the original Rathus with
l a t h u sw i t h i t s I t o 6 s c a l c ,
i t s + 3 t o - 3 s c o r i n g s y s t e ma n d t h e r e v i s e c R
90 (3 nrultiplied by 30 itcrns) was subtracteclI'rotn each reviseclRatlrus
t o t a l . ' l ' h e a c l j u s t e dS R A S m e a n s c o r e f o r f e r n a l e s( n : 8 2 ) w a s 4 . 6 . , t D :
2 - 5 . 4w
, h i l e t h e R A S p r o d u c e cal l l l e a n o f 4 . 8 , S D : 2 6 . 9 . 1 ' h e a c l j u s t c d
S R A S r n e a n s c o r e f o r n r a l e s( n - 3 4 ) w a s 9 . 8 . S D : 2 0 . 1 , a n d o t t t h e I I A S
t h e r n e a n w a s 9 . 9 , S D : 2 0 . 2 . ' l ' h e s eI i g u r e ss u g g e s ta n a l l t l o s ti d c n t i c a l
c l i s t r i b u t i o no f s c o r e so n b o t h t e s t s ;f u r t h c r l r o r e . t h e s ev a l u e sw e r e s i n t i l a r t o t h o s e f o u n d i n o t h e r s t u d i e s( e . 9 . , H u l l a n d H u l l , i 9 7 t t ) ,
1 ' h e u t i l i t y o f t h e n e w m e a s u r ew a s f o u n d t o b c h i g h , w i t h 9 7 9 l ,o" f t l t c
group crf offenders completing the simplilicd Rathus. while only 7?h cctntpletecl the original Rathus. The sirnplified version should also be of value
r v i t h p s y c h i a t r i cp a t i e n t sa n d t h e m i l d l y m e n t a l l y r e t a r d e d .I n a d d i t i o n . i t
nlay provc to be a rnore efficient and lcss taxirtg mcasure for subjectsof
a v c r a g er e a d i n g a b i l i t y .
REFERENCES
A n c l r a s i k .F . , t t c i n r b e r g ,R . ( i . . E d l u n c l .S . R . . & I l l a n k e n b e r g .I { . A s s c s s i n gt h e r e a d a b i l i t v
l e v e l s r r f s e l f - r c p o r t a s s e r t i ( ) ni n v e n t o r i e s .J o t t r n a l o l ' C o t r s t . r l t i r tugt r d C l i r i t u l I ' s t ' t h o l o g t ,
1 9 8 1 . 4 9 .1 1 2 - 1 4 4 .
E l l c y , W . B . T h e a s s e s s r n e not l r e a d a b i l i t y l r y n o u n f r e r l u e t r c yc o u n t s . 1 & ' r r r l i r t gI k s L ' u r c h
Q u o r t e r l y , 1 9 6 9 ,4 , 4 l l - 1 2 7 .
I - ' l c s c h ,I t . F . T h e a r t o f r e a d u b l e w ' r i t i t r 1 4N.e w Y o r k : I - l a r p e r , 1 9 4 9 .
l l a l l , . l . R . A s s e s s r n e n to f a s s e r t i v c n c s s I. n P . M c R c y n o l c l s E d . , , z l r l t ' a r t t eisn p . s v c l u t l o l q i t u l
( r , r . r ? . r s l l e(rV
/ o l 4 ) . S a n F r a n c i s c o :. l o s s e yB a s s . 1 9 7 7 .
s c h e d u l eu i t h o f [ l c i r n b c r g , R . G . , & I - l a r r i s o n ,D . F . t J s e o f t h e R a t h u s A s s e r t i v e n c s S
f e n r l e r s :A q u e s t i o n o f q u e s t i o n s . I J c l n v i o r ' l l t c r u p t , , 1 q 8 0 . l l . 2 7 t J - 2 l l l .
s c h e d u l e :N o r n r a t i v ea n d f a c t o r - a r r a l v t i c
I i u l l . D . B . . & F I u l l , J . H . R a t h u s A s s e r t i v e n e sS
'l'lrcrupt,,
1978. 9, 673.
<ltrttr.lJelnvior
L i n e h a n , M . N , l . . G o l d f r i e d , M . R . , & ( i o l d l - r i e d ,A . P . A s s c r t i o n t h c r a p y : S k i l l t r i r i n i t r go r '
c o g n i t i v e r e s t r u c ( u r i n g .I l e l n v i o r T l t e r o p l ' , 1 9 7 9 . 1 0 . 3 7 2 3 t i f l .
l i t h n r o d c l i n ga n d c o a c h i t r gi t t : r s s c r '
M c [ . - a l l .l { . M . , & l - i l l e s a n c lI.) . t s . B e h a v i o r r e h e a r s a w
t i o r r t r a i n i n g . J o u r n u l o . f t l l t n o r r n o l I ' s v th o l o g r , , l 9 ' 71 , 7 7 , 3 13 - - 1 2 3 .
l l a t l r u s , S . A . A 3 t f i t e n r s c h e d u l e f o r a s s e s s i n ga s s c r t i v eb e l t a v i o r . I J t ' l t a v i o r ' l h e r u ] ) . r 'l,\ t 7 \ .
4.39tt-406.
R a t h u s .S . A . , & N e v i d . J . S . C o n c u r r e n tv a l i d i t yo f t h e 3 0 - i t c ma s s e r t i v e r r esscsh e ( l u l e\ \ , r h a
psychiatric population. IJelnt,ior Tlrcropy, 1977, tl, 393-.197.
98
I.A. I\ICCORI\IICK
APPENDIX
St'lrc d u I e
,Si n rp I c Ra t I t t ts zl.r.scrtit'ertc.s.r
'l'o
\\rllA'llX): Il.ead each senteucc carefully. write down on each line whatever
r t t t r t t t r c ri s c o r r e c t f o r v t l t t .
6
5
4
3
2
I
very nruch like nte
rather like tne
somewhat likc nte
s o n t e w h a tu n l i k e n t e
rather urrlike nte
very unlike tne
[ . r " - l o s tp e o p l e s t a n d u p f o r t h e m s e l v e st n o r e t l r a n I d o . *
2 . A t t i r n e s I h a v e n o t m a d e o r g o n e o n d a t e s b e c a u s et l f n t y s h 1 ' n e s s . '
3 . W h e n I a r r t e a t i n g o u t a n d t h e f o o d I a m s e r v e di s n o t c o o k e d t h e w a v I l i k e i t '
I conrplain to the person servingit.
4 . I a n r c a r e f u l n o t t o h u r t o t h e r p e o p l e ' s f e e l i n g s ,e v e n w h e n I f e e l h u r t . *
5.lf a person serving in a store has gone to a lot of trouble to show mc some"No."*
thing which I do not really like, I have a hard time saying
6 . W h e n I a n r a s k e c lt o d o s o r n et h i n g , I a l w a y s w a n t t ( ) k n o l v w h y
7 . ' l h c r e a r e t i t n e s w h e t t I l o o k f o r a g o o d s t r o t r ga r g t l n l e l l t .
t l . I t r y a s h a r t l t o S e t . a h e a di n l i f e a s n t o s t p e o p l c l i k e r n e d o .
9.'l-o be honest. people often get the better of nte.*
1 0 .I e n j o y n r e e t i u g a n d t a l k i n g w i t t r p e o p l e f o r t h e ( i r s t t i t n e .
It.l
'
often don't know what to say to good looking people of the opl.rositc'scx
1 2 . I c l o n o t l i k c n t a k i n g p h o n c c a l l s t o b u s i t r c s s c so r c o t t t l l a n i c s . "
13.I $,oulclrather apply for jobs by writing letters than by going to talk to the
p e o p l e ..
1 4 .I f e c l s i l l y i f I r e r u r n t h i n g s I d o n ' t l i k c t o t h e s t o r e t h a t I b o u g h t t h e m f r o r n . *
15.lf a close relative that I liked was upsetting me, I rvould hide nry feelings
rather tltan say that I was upset'*
1 6 .I h a v c s o l n e t i m e s n o t a s k e d q u c s t i o n s f o r f e a r o f s o u d i n g s t u p i d . *
17.During an argument I anr sometimesafraid tliat I will get so upset that I will
shake all over.*
l 1 3 l.f a f a n r < t u sp e r s o n w e r c t a l k i n g i n a c r o w d a n d I t h o u g h t h e o r s l r e w a s w r o l l g .
I would get up and say wlrat I tltought.
1 9 .I d o n ' t a r g u e o v e r p r i c e s w i t l r p e o p l e s e l l i n g t h i n g s . *
2 ( ) .W h c n I r l o s < t r l e t h i n gi n l p o r t i l n t o r g t x x l , I t r y t o l c t t t l l t c r sk l t t l w l t l r o t t li l .
- l l . I r u t t t t p c t ti t t t t l l t o l t c s tt t l r o t r lr t r l 'l c e l i t r g s
S I I U P I - ER A S
99
2 2 . l f s g r r r e o n eh a s h e e n t e l l i n g f a l s e a n d b a t l s t o r i e s a b o u t n r e . I s e e h i n t ( h c r ) a s
"have a talk" about it.
s o o n a s p o s s i b l et o
23. I often have a harcltinrc saying
"No."*
2 . { .I t e n c l n o t t o s h o w r n y f e c l i n g s r a t h e r t h a n u p s e t t i n go t l r e r s . *
2 5 . I c o r n p l a i n a b o u t p o o r s e r v i c ew h e n I a r n e a t i n g o u t o r i n o t h e r p l a c e s
2 6 . W h e n s o r n e o n es a 1 ' sI h a v e d o n e v e r y r v e l l . I s t t n t e t i m e si u s t d o n ' t k n o s u h a t
to sity.*
27. lI a couple near me in the theatrervcretalking rather loudly. I would ask thcnr
t ( ) b e q u i e t o r t o g o s c l n t e w h e r ee l s e a n d t a l k .
28. Anyonc trying to push ahcad of rne in a line is in for a good battle'
2 9 . I a n i q u i c k t o s a Yw h a t I t h i n k .
30.There are times wherr I just can't say anything.*
'l'otal
-[he
score obtained b]'
s c o r i n g r v e i g h t f o r a s t e r i s k e di t e r n s r v e r e r e v i s e d .
Note:
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e
c
t
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s u n r n r i n gi t e m s c o r e s
R r c a r v e o : l - 1 7 - 8 3 F I N n t . A c c s p r a r ' r c e :8 - 1 9 - 8 3