Addressing measurement limitations in affective rating scales: Development of an empirical valence scale

Abstract

Traditional self-report measures suffer from weaknesses in either the quantitative or qualitative assessment of subjective experience. Researchers interested in the subjective intensity of oral sensation have attempted to reduce these scale limitations by developing rating scales with empirically determined placement of verbal descriptors along a continuous visual analogue scale continuum. In the present research, a similar empirical approach to scale construction was adopted to develop a rating scale of emotional valence. The potential benefits of using an empirically derived valence scale and techniques for validating the scale are discussed.

Acknowledgements

DL was supported by NIMH training grant #T32-MH18921 during data collection.

We thank Linda Bartoshuk who challenged us to incorporate more modern rating scale techniques in emotion research. We also thank Liz Abernathy for help in collecting pilot data and Sean Jewett for assistance with computer programming.