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Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Scale
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About Scale Name
Scale Name
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Scale
Author Details
David Watson, Lee Anna Clark, and Auke Tellegen
Translation Availability
Not Sure
Background/Description
The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) is a widely used self-report measure developed to assess the two fundamental dimensions of affect: positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA). It was created by David Watson, Lee Anna Clark, and Auke Tellegen in 1988. The PANAS was designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of an individual’s emotional experiences, allowing researchers and clinicians to better understand the complex interplay between positive and negative emotions.
The PANAS consists of two separate scales, one for positive affect and one for negative affect. Each scale comprises a list of adjectives that describe various emotional states. Participants are instructed to rate the extent to which they have experienced each emotion over a specified time frame, typically within the past few weeks or days. The scale uses a Likert-type response format, ranging from 1 (very slightly or not at all) to 5 (extremely), indicating the intensity of the emotional experience.
The Positive Affect Scale includes adjectives such as joyful, interested, determined, enthusiastic, and attentive. These items capture the range of positive emotions experienced by an individual.
The Negative Affect Scale consists of adjectives such as distressed, upset, guilty, irritable, and nervous. These items represent a broad spectrum of negative emotions experienced by individuals.
IThe PANAS was developed to address the need for a comprehensive measurement tool to assess affective states. Emotions play a crucial role in human experiences, influencing thoughts, behaviors, and overall well-being. The PANAS was created to measure both positive and negative affect, recognizing that these two dimensions coexist and have unique contributions to psychological functioning.
The introduction of the PANAS brought about a standardized approach to assess affect, allowing researchers to study the relationship between affect and various psychological variables, such as personality traits, mental health outcomes, and social functioning. It has been widely used in research across diverse fields, including psychology, psychiatry, health sciences, and social sciences.
The PANAS has demonstrated good reliability and validity, making it a valuable tool for both research and clinical practice. By measuring positive and negative affect separately, the PANAS provides a nuanced understanding of an individual’s emotional state, contributing to a comprehensive assessment of emotional well-being.
Please note that while the PANAS is a widely used and well-regarded assessment tool, it is important to consider it in conjunction with other measures and professional judgment when interpreting results and drawing conclusions about an individual’s emotional state or well-being.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
Explain the purpose: Begin by providing a brief overview of the PANAS and its purpose. Explain that it is designed to measure the individual’s experience of positive and negative emotions.
Instructions: Clearly explain the instructions for completing the PANAS. Inform participants that they will be presented with a list of adjectives and asked to rate the extent to which they have experienced each emotion within a specific time frame.
Time frame: Specify the time frame for the assessment (e.g., past week, past month) so that participants can provide ratings based on their recent experiences.
Likert scale: Introduce the response format of the Likert scale, typically ranging from 1 to 5, to indicate the intensity or frequency of the emotional experience. Participants should be informed that they need to select the number that best reflects their experience for each item.
Positive Affect Scale: Present the list of adjectives associated with positive emotions. Instruct participants to rate the extent to which they have experienced each emotion. Encourage them to consider their feelings honestly and select the response that best represents their experience.
Negative Affect Scale: Present the list of adjectives associated with negative emotions. Similarly, instruct participants to rate the extent to which they have experienced each emotion within the specified time frame.
Completion time: Inform participants about the estimated time required to complete the PANAS. This can help manage their expectations and encourage them to provide thoughtful and accurate responses.
Clarify any uncertainties: Be available to address any questions or concerns participants may have regarding the PANAS items or response format.
Confidentiality and anonymity: Emphasize that participants’ responses will remain confidential and that their anonymity will be preserved. This can help promote honest and accurate reporting.
Completion and collection: After participants have completed the PANAS, collect the responses either manually or electronically, depending on the mode of administration.
Reliability and Validity
The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) has been extensively studied for its reliability and validity. Here’s an overview of its psychometric properties:
- Internal Consistency: The PANAS has shown high internal consistency, indicating that the items within each scale (Positive Affect and Negative Affect) are strongly related to each other. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, a measure of internal consistency, have typically ranged from good to excellent (above 0.80) for both scales.
- Test-Retest Reliability: The PANAS has demonstrated good test-retest reliability, indicating that individuals’ scores remain stable over time when there have been no significant changes in their affective states. Test-retest correlations for the PANAS have generally been in the moderate to high range (around 0.70 or higher).
- Content Validity: The items included in the PANAS were carefully selected by experts to represent a wide range of positive and negative affective states. The content validity of the PANAS is supported by the inclusion of adjectives that capture diverse emotions.
- Construct Validity: The PANAS has been shown to have strong construct validity, meaning that it effectively measures the intended constructs of positive affect and negative affect. Studies have consistently found that positive affect and negative affect are distinct but related dimensions, and the PANAS captures this duality.
- Convergent and Discriminant Validity: The PANAS has demonstrated good convergent validity, as it correlates positively with other measures of positive affect and negative affect. It also exhibits discriminant validity by showing weaker correlations with measures assessing unrelated constructs.
- Criterion-Related Validity: The PANAS has been used in numerous studies to examine its relationship with various external criteria, such as mental health outcomes, well-being, personality traits, and social functioning. It has shown meaningful associations with these criteria, supporting its criterion-related validity.
It’s important to note that the validity and reliability of the PANAS can vary depending on the specific population, cultural context, and the purpose of assessment. Researchers and practitioners are encouraged to consider these factors and examine the psychometric properties of the PANAS within their specific context of use.
Available Versions
20-Items
Reference
Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988). Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54(6), 1063-1070. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.54.6.1063
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is the purpose of the PANAS?
A1: The PANAS is designed to measure an individual’s experience of positive and negative affect, or emotions. It aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of emotional states and is used in research, clinical assessments, and surveys to understand the relationship between affect and various psychological variables.
Q2: How is the PANAS administered?
A2: The PANAS is typically administered as a self-report questionnaire. Participants are presented with a list of adjectives that describe positive and negative emotions and are asked to rate the extent to which they have experienced each emotion within a specified time frame. Ratings are usually made on a Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5.
Q3: Can the PANAS be used in different languages and cultures?
A3: Yes, the PANAS has been translated and adapted for use in various languages and cultural contexts. Translated versions undergo a process of validation to ensure that they maintain the intended meaning and psychometric properties in different populations.
Q4: How long does it take to complete the PANAS?
A4: The time required to complete the PANAS can vary depending on factors such as the number of items and the individual’s reading and response speed. On average, it takes around 5 to 10 minutes to complete the PANAS.
Q5: Is the PANAS suitable for assessing emotional changes over time?
A5: Yes, the PANAS can be used to track changes in affect over time. By administering the scale at multiple time points, researchers and practitioners can assess fluctuations in positive and negative affect and examine how they relate to specific events, interventions, or changes in individuals’ circumstances.
Q6: Can the PANAS be used in clinical settings?
A6: Yes, the PANAS is commonly used in clinical assessments to evaluate emotional states and monitor changes in affect throughout therapy or treatment. It can provide valuable insights into individuals’ emotional well-being and guide interventions.
Q7: Is the PANAS suitable for diagnosing specific mental health conditions?
A7: The PANAS is not designed for diagnosing specific mental health conditions. Instead, it assesses general levels of positive and negative affect. However, it can be used as part of a comprehensive assessment to understand emotional experiences that may be related to mental health.
Q8: Are there alternative measures to assess affect?
A8: Yes, there are other measures available to assess affect, such as the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule – Expanded Form (PANAS-X), the Affect Balance Scale (ABS), and various mood and emotion scales. The choice of measure depends on the specific research or clinical objectives and the psychometric properties of the instrument.
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