Reliability and Validity of Four Anger Scales

Abstract

To assess the test-retest reliability of four anger scales: the Buss Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI), the Reaction Inventory (RI), the Anger Self Report (ASR), and the Anger Inventory (NI), 60 student volunteers were twice administered the four inventories (two weeks apart). They also filled out a Personal Incidents Record of all anger-provoking incidents for two weeks of their daily life, and participated in imaginal and role-play laboratory provocations, after which physiological readings and self-reports of anger arousal were assessed. The BDHI and RI evidenced good test-retest reliability, the ASR fair reliability, and the NI poor reliability. Many ASR subscales demonstrated good predictive validity. The RI and BDHI possessed some ability to predict the experience of anger, but most of the BDHI subscales did not seem to be measuring specific states or behavior. The NI did not correlate with any of the criterion measures.