Assessment of the validity of the Reasons for Smoking scale

To assess the convergent validity of the Reasons for Smoking scale (RFS) 30 male and 24 female smokers completed the RFS and then self-monitored their smoking motives over seven days. Significant validity coefficients, ranging from .39 to .51, were obtained for the stimulation, pleasure, habit, and psychological addiction motive scales. The stimulation, habit, and psychological addiction scales also demonstrated sound discriminant validity. Validity coefficients for the sensorimotor manipulation and negative affect reduction motive scales were nonsignificant. These results contrast sharply with the less positive findings of previous research. Sample and methodological differences between the studies may explain the dissimilarity in results.