Individual Differences Research

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Individual Differences Research > Volume 12, Issue 2 (2014) > 50-58

The Single-Item Need for Consistency Scale

Austin Lee Nichols, Gregory D. Webster

Abstract

Despite the applicability of the preference for consistency (PFC) scale to multiple real-world settings, the large number of items limits its use in field studies. To ease this restriction, we constructed and tested a single-item measure (i.e., the single-item need for consistency scale--SIN-C). Through three studies (N ~ 1000), we examined the concurrent validity of a single-item need for consistency scale with the PFC in a student sample (Study 1), the test-retest reliability of the SIN-C across four months (Study 2), and the construct validity of the SIN-C in a diverse international sample (Study 3). Overall, the SIN-C showed good reliability and validity, supporting its use in future research.