Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

High-Level and Low-Level Awareness

High-Level and Low-Level Awareness

Controlled processes in human consciousness represent high-alert mental states where individuals deliberately focus their attention on achieving specific goals. Controlled processes can be seen in situations like mastering new technology, where a person might become so absorbed that they ignore surrounding distractions. Such processes involve selective attention, requiring one to concentrate on particular elements of experience while disregarding others. These are governed by executive...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Mind-wandering content in major depressive disorder: A preregistered secondary analysis.

Journal of affective disorders·2026

Same author

Domain-specific Internet use and social participation in older adults: the role of affective attitudes toward digital device use.

European journal of ageing·2026

Same author

Computational Modeling of Decision Making Enhances the Adversity Researcher's Toolbox.

Topics in cognitive science·2026

Same author

Usage of the Tablet-Based "Keep On Keep Up" Digital Program and Resulting Changes in Physical Capacity and Real-World Walking in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Process Evaluation.

JMIR formative research·2026

Same author

Contralateral delay activity as a marker of visual working memory capacity: A multi-site registered replication.

Cortex; a journal devoted to the study of the nervous system and behavior·2026

Same author

Investigating the analytical robustness of the social and behavioural sciences.

Nature·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2025

Measurement of Neurophysiological Signals of Ignoring and Attending Processes in Attention Control

Measurement of Neurophysiological Signals of Ignoring and Attending Processes in Attention Control

Published on: July 5, 2015

The brief mind wandering three-factor scale (BMW-3).

Anna-Lena Schubert¹, Gidon T Frischkorn², Kathrin Sadus³

¹Department of Psychology, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany. anna-lena.schubert@uni-mainz.de.

Behavior Research Methods

|September 11, 2024

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed the Brief Mind Wandering Three-Factor Scale (BMW-3) to measure individual differences in task-unrelated thought. This reliable and valid questionnaire assesses unintentional, intentional, and meta-awareness of mind wandering.

Keywords:

Measurement Mind wandering Questionnaire Task-unrelated thought

More Related Videos

Combining Behavior and EEG to Study the Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Episodic Memory

Combining Behavior and EEG to Study the Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Episodic Memory

Published on: May 11, 2020

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

Published on: July 16, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 13, 2025

Measurement of Neurophysiological Signals of Ignoring and Attending Processes in Attention Control

Measurement of Neurophysiological Signals of Ignoring and Attending Processes in Attention Control

Published on: July 5, 2015

Combining Behavior and EEG to Study the Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Episodic Memory

Combining Behavior and EEG to Study the Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Episodic Memory

Published on: May 11, 2020

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions

Published on: July 16, 2015

Area of Science:

Psychology
Cognitive Science
Individual Differences Research

Background:

Growing interest in measuring individual differences in mind wandering as a psychological trait.
Existing questionnaires for mind wandering are often too broad or fail to differentiate aspects of mind wandering.
Need for a concise, multidimensional measure of mind wandering.

Purpose of the Study:

Introduce and validate the Brief Mind Wandering Three-Factor Scale (BMW-3).
Assess three dimensions: unintentional mind wandering, intentional mind wandering, and meta-awareness of mind wandering.
Evaluate the scale's psychometric properties and validity in German and English.

Main Methods:

Development of a 12-item questionnaire (BMW-3) in German and English.
Data collection from 1038 participants (823 German, 215 English speakers).
Statistical analyses including factor structure, measurement invariance, reliability, convergent validity, and predictive validity.

Main Results:

Supported the proposed three-factorial structure of mind wandering.
Demonstrated scalar measurement invariance between German and English versions.
Showed good internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent validity, and predictive validity for various outcomes.

Conclusions:

The BMW-3 is a brief, reliable, and valid instrument for assessing individual differences in mind wandering.
The scale effectively measures unintentional, intentional, and meta-awareness of mind wandering.
BMW-3 is suitable for both basic and clinical research applications.