Measures and Tasks
Dr. Veilleux and the TEMPT team have developed a number of measures and tasks. Here we provide information on some of the measures or task we have created including how to get access to the measure.
Momentary Distress Intolerance Scale (MDIS)
The Momentary Distress Intolerance Scale is a 3-item measure to assess state (i.e., momentary) perceptions of distress intolerance. The measure was designed to map on to conceptualizations of distress tolerance as the ability to persist through distress, and was intended to be used in ecological momentary assessment (EMA) studies. EMA studies assess behavior and attitudes by collecting data via electronic devices (i.e., cell phones) while people go about their daily lives.
The MDIS items are given on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree), and the three items are: (1) I want to stop what I’m doing right now so I can feel better; (2) Right now, my emotions are getting in my way; and (3) I can keep doing what I’m doing right now, regardless of how I feel. The third item is reverse scored so that higher scores represent greater intolerance of distress.
We developed this measure in a college student sample but have already collected data on smokers and dieters, and are currently in the process of collecting more data on another smoking sample as well as with students who exhibit symptoms of borderline personality disorder. The reference is below, and feel free to contact us if you have additional questions.
Reference:
Veilleux, J. C., *Hill, M. A., *Skinner, K. D., *Pollert, G. A., *Baker, D. E. & *Spero, K. D. (in press). The dynamics of persisting through distress: Development of a momentary distress intolerance scale using ecological momentary assessment. Psychological Assessment. doi: 10.1037/pas0000593 [Download copy of article here]
Emotional Image Tolerance (EIT) task
The Emotional Image Tolerance task is a computerized task assessing tolerance of emotional images. In this task, participants view 45 negative images from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS) and press “q” when they feel distressed by the image, and then they press “p” when the image is too difficult to bear. The measure ultimately results in four variables: Image persistence (the average length participants view each image), Count of Distress (the number of slides on which the participant presses “p”), Distress Threshold (the average time into the slide the participant indicates distress) and Distress Tolerance (the time after the participant indicates distress, while they are still willing to view the image; the average time between “q” and “p”).
We have used this task in E-Prime and are happy to send the e-Prime files to researchers intersted in using the task; please email Dr. Veilleux (jcveille@uark.edu) for the files. Also be sure to obtain permission from the Center for the Study of Emotion and Attention at the University of Florida to use the IAPS images.
Reference:
Veilleux, J. C., *Pollert, G. A., *Zielinski, M. J., *Shaver, J. A., & +Hill, M.A. (in press). Behavioral assessment of the negative emotion aspect of distress tolerance: Tolerance to emotional images. Assessment. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191116689819
Emotion and Regulation Beliefs Scale (ERBS)
The Emotion and Regulation Beliefs Scale (ERBS) assesss beliefs about emotion, beyond the belief that emotions are changable or malleable (Tamir et al., 2007). Specifically the ERBS assesses the belief that emotions constrain or restrict behavior (e.g., when sad, a person “cannot get out of bed” or cannot act differently than the emotions suggest), the belief that putting effort into emotion regulation is worthwhile, and the belief that emotions “hijack” self-control (e.g., when angry, I “couldn’t help” but lash out).
Download ERBS with scoring information here
Reference:
Veilleux, J. C., Salomaa, A. C., Shaver, J. A., Zielinski, M. J., & Pollert, G. A. (2015). Multidimensional assessment of beliefs about emotion: Development and validation of the Emotion and Regulation Beliefs Scale. Assessment, 22, 86-100. doi: 10.1177/1073191114534883
Psychological Research Inventory of Concepts (PRIC)
The Psychological Research Inventory of Concepts (PRIC) is a 20-item multiple choice measure designed to assess research methods and statistical literacy. The intention of the measure is to assess knowledge of concepts learned in undergraduate psychology research methods and statistics courses, to be able to assess learned knowledge beyond grades. To allow for accurate assessment of student learning, the full measure will not be posted online, but Dr. Veilleux is happy to provide the full measure to faculty interested in using the scale for research, teaching, and/or program assessment. Please email Dr. Veilleux at (jcveille@uark.edu) to obtain a copy of the measure. We can provide a paper and pencil version and/or an electronic version in Qualtrics.
References:
Veilleux, J. C., & Chapman, K. M. (2017). Development of a research methods and statistics concept inventory. Teaching of Psychology, 44, 203-211. doi: 10.1177/0098628317711287
Veilleux, J. C., & Chapman, K. M. (2017). Validation of the Psychological Research Inventory of Concepts: An index of research and statistical literacy. Teaching of Psychology, 44, 212-221. doi: 10.1177/0098628317711302
Graduate Program Climate Scale
The Graduate Program Climate Scale is a measure of the “climate” or atmosphere of clinical psychology graduate programs. The idea of the measure is to assess graduate students’ perecptions of the culture of the department in terms of how good the department is at supporting students. The measure could easily be adapted to other kinds of graduate programs, and may be useful for both research on program climate or program assessment (e.g., for APA accreditation). Researchers and university faculty are welcome to use the measure for research, teaching and/or program evaluation.
The full measure with scoring information can be downloaded here.
Reference:
Veilleux, J. C., January, A. M., VanderVeen, J. W., Reddy, L. F., & Klonoff, E. A. (2012). Perceptions of climate in clinical psychology doctoral programs: Development and initial validation of the Graduate Program Climate Scale. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 6, 211-219. doi: 10.1037/a0030303
State Loss of Interest and Pleasure Scale (SLIPS)
The State Loss of Interest and Pleasure Scale (SLIPS) is a 23-item measure of recent changes in anhedonia, or recent changes in loss of interest and pleasure. The measure intentionally assesses change and thus goes beyond measure of trait anhedonia or even state anhedonia to be able to capture changes that may indicate increased symptomatology. Because of the way the SLIPS is worded, we can also separate no change from “trait” or longstanding lack of interest and pleasure. The full text of the measure is listed in the article, and interested parties can contact Dr. Winer at Missisippi State if there are additional questions about the measure.
Reference:
Winer, E. S., Veilleux, J. C., & Ginger, E. (2014). Development and validation of the Specific Loss of Interest and Pleasure Scale (SLIPS). Journal of Affective Disorders, 152, 193-201. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2013.09.010