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Miller Behavioral Style Scale
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About Miller Behavioral Style Scale
Scale Name
Miller Behavioral Style Scale
Author Details
Suzanne M. Miller
Translation Availability
Not Sure
Background/Description
The Miller Behavioral Style Scale (MBSS) is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure an individual’s information-seeking behavior under threat. It was developed by S. M Miller in 1987 and is widely used in various research fields, including health psychology, organizational behavior, and communication studies.
The MBSS consists of 32 items, each describing a possible coping mechanism in four hypothetical threat scenarios:
- Fear of having dental work done
- Being kidnapped by a terrorist group
- Losing one’s job
- Being on an airplane experiencing turbulence
For each scenario, respondents are presented with eight options and asked to indicate how likely they are to engage in each behavior. These options represent two distinct coping styles:
- Monitoring: Actively seeking information about the threat and its potential consequences.
- Blunting: Avoiding information about the threat and engaging in distracting activities.
Based on their responses, individuals receive scores on two subscales:
- Monitoring: Reflects the tendency to seek out information about the threat.
- Blunting: Reflects the tendency to avoid information about the threat.
Higher scores on the monitoring subscale indicate a preference for actively gathering information, while higher scores on the blunting subscale indicate a preference for avoiding information.
The MBSS has been used in numerous studies to investigate the relationship between information-seeking styles and various outcomes, such as:
- Health: Individuals with high monitoring scores tend to engage in more health-protective behaviors, such as seeking regular medical checkups.
- Stress: Individuals with high blunting scores may be more susceptible to the negative effects of stress.
- Decision-making: Individuals with high monitoring scores may be more likely to gather all available information before making a decision.
- Communication: Understanding an individual’s information-seeking style can help tailor communication messages to be more effective.
It is important to note that the MBSS is a self-report measure and should not be used for diagnostic purposes. Additionally, research on the MBSS has yielded mixed results, and its validity and reliability have been questioned in some studies.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
The administration of the Miller Behavioral Style Scale (MBSS) depends on the specific context and purpose of its use. Here’s an overview of different ways it can be administered:
Individual Administration:
- Self-administered: This is the most common method, where individuals complete the paper-and-pencil questionnaire on their own. The instructions are clear and straightforward, making it suitable for most populations.
- Clinician-administered: A trained professional can read the questions aloud and record the individual’s responses. This may be preferable for people with reading difficulties or for research purposes where additional information is collected alongside the MBSS.
Group Administration:
- Paper-and-pencil format: Questionnaires are distributed and instructions are provided to a group of individuals who complete them independently. This method can be efficient for large groups.
- Online format: The MBSS can be administered online through platforms like survey websites or research software. This allows for convenient data collection and analysis but requires internet access and basic computer skills.
Important Considerations:
- Standardization: Regardless of the administration method, it’s crucial to adhere to standardized instructions and scoring procedures to ensure consistent and reliable results.
- Consent: Informed consent should be obtained before administering the MBSS, explaining its purpose and potential risks and benefits.
- Qualifications: Only qualified professionals, like psychologists or trained research personnel, should administer and interpret the MBSS, especially in clinical settings.
- Accessibility: Consider providing alternative formats or translations of the MBSS to accommodate individuals with disabilities or language barriers.
Reliability and Validity
The internal consistency of the monitoring and blunting sub-scales of the MBSS was alpha = 0.65 and 0.41 respectively. Test-retest analyses with a sample of 110 subjects show the MBSS subscales to be highly stable over a 4-month period: for the monitoring subscale = .72; for the blunting subscale = .75.
Validity: The MBSS demonstrates good validity.
Available Versions
32-Items
Reference
Miller, S. M. (1987). Monitoring and blunting: validation of a questionnaire to assess styles of information seeking under threat. Journal of personality and social psychology, 52(2), 345.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is it?
Measures information-seeking behavior under threat in 4 scenarios. Identifies two styles: Monitoring (active info seeking) & Blunting (avoiding info).
Who uses it?
Researchers in health, psychology, communication. Clinicians in some settings.
How reliable is it?
Moderate for Monitoring, lower for Blunting. May vary across cultures and individuals.
How valid is it?
Mixed evidence for construct & predictive validity. Strengths in content validity.
How is it administered?
Self-administered paper-and-pencil or online format. Individual or group settings.
Limitations?
Self-report bias can affect accuracy. Not diagnostic, use with caution.
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