The reliability of the student version of the Jenkins Activity Survey

Two studies assessed two types of reliability of the student Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS; a questionnaire measure of Type A behavior). In Study 1, 810 undergraduates completed the JAS. Analyses revealed that estimates of the internal consistency (Chronbach's alpha) of the JAS and its subscales (hard-driving/competitive and speed impatience) ranged from moderately low to moderately high. In Study 2, independent samples of undergraduates completed the JAS at two testings, separated by 2 weeks (N = 137) or 3 months (N = 124). Analyses revealed that estimates of the temporal stability (test-retest reliability) of the JAS total score ranged from moderately to extremely high. The results of these studies suggest that the student JAS has satisfactory internal consistency and excellent test-retest reliability and support its continued use in research on these psychometric grounds. Additional potential difficulties with the JAS are discussed in the context of recommendations for future research.