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The Spanos Attitudes Toward Hypnosis Questionnaire: psychometric characteristics and normative data
1University of Hartford, Department of Psychology, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117, USA. milling@hartford.edu
The American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis
|March 27, 2012
Summary
The Attitudes Toward Hypnosis Questionnaire (ATHQ) may not accurately measure distinct attitudes toward hypnosis. Researchers recommend using the 14 items as a single scale for future studies on hypnosis.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychometrics
Background:
- The Attitudes Toward Hypnosis Questionnaire (ATHQ) is a self-report measure assessing attitudes toward hypnosis.
- The original ATHQ comprises three subscales: Positive Beliefs, Fearlessness, and Mental Stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the generalizability of the ATHQ's original three-factor structure.
- To provide normative data for the ATHQ using a large sample of undergraduate psychology students.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 925 introductory psychology students completed the 14-item ATHQ.
- Internal consistency analysis and factor analysis were performed to assess the scale's structure.
Main Results:
- Factor analysis and internal consistency analysis did not support the original three-factor structure of the ATHQ.
- The study suggests that the subscales of the ATHQ are not psychometrically sound.
Conclusions:
- The original subscales of the ATHQ should be abandoned.
- The 14 items of the ATHQ are recommended for use as a unidimensional scale.
- The unidimensional ATHQ could be a valuable tool for future research on hypnotic responding.
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