How to Assess Anger Scales

Anger scales assess the degree of severity and provide insight regarding the causes of anger. Anger scales vary in length and format, with scales typically being multiple-choice format and having 20 to 30 questions. Examples of anger scales include the Clinical Anger Scale (CAS), Novaco Anger Scale and Provocation Inventory (NAS-PI), Anger Disorders Scale (ADS) and State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI). Anger scales typically include information regarding various assessments of the reliability and validity of the scale.

Instructions

• 1

  Review how the scale conceptualizes anger and whether the scale intends to measure different types, causes and/or expressions of anger. Factor analysis is a statistical technique that pairs together items that are answered in a similar pattern, which implies that a possible relationship between the items exists (i.e., the items measure a certain type of anger).

• 2

  Examine reliability data included with the scale, including inter-rater reliability, test-retest reliability and internal consistency. Scores range from 0.0 to 1.0, with 1.0 being "a perfect score." Scores above 0.8 indicate good reliability.

• 3

  Analyze data included with the scale that is pertinent to validity. Validity measures the degree that the test measures what it is intended to measure. Scores range from 0.0 to 1.0, with 1.0 meaning "perfect validity."

• 4

  Consider the population that the anger scale is intended for and assess whether the scale is accessible by this population. For example, a self-administered scale for young children should be written at a level of a young child, not a graduate-level clinician.