Introduction
Shyness is a form of inhibition and discomfort in the presence of others (for a good overview, see Hopko et al., 2005). Shyness can be observed in children as young as 2 years old (Kagan et al., 1989), and there seems to be a clear biological basis for it (Kagan et al., 1988).
The McCroskey Shyness Scale is a short 14 item survey. There are a number of other shyness scales as well, such as the Cheek and Buss scale (1979).
| Some of the questions are actually directly about shyness rather than about the underlying behaviour or feelings, such as "I am a shy person" and "More people are more shy than I am". |
The interpretation of the actual scores are listed on The McCroskey’s website:
The paper states "Score should be between 14 and 20. Scores above 52 indicate a high level of shyness. Scores below 32 indicate a low level of shyness. Scores between 32 and 52 indicate a moderate level of shyness."
| Did you know that loneliness and shyness are related? Check also our loneliness survey. |
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Legal stuff
This scale can be used, but the McCroskey paper needs to be acknowledged and cited.
Technically
A simple survey with a scale item including some negatively scored items.
The survey code for PsyToolkit
scale: agree
- Strongly Disagree
- Disagree
- Neutral
- Agree
- Strongly Agree
l: mss
t: scale agree
o: buildup
q: Below are fourteen statements that people sometimes make about
themselves.<br>Please indicate whether or not you believe each statement applies to you by marking to what extend you disagree or agree.
- I am a shy person.
- {reverse} Other people think I talk a lot.
- {reverse} I am a very talkative person.
- Other people think I am shy.
- {reverse} I talk a lot.
- I tend to be very quiet in class.
- I don't talk much.
- {reverse} I talk more than most people.
- I am a quiet person.
- {reverse} I talk more in a small group (3-6) than others do.
- Most people talk more than I do.
- Other people think I am very quiet.
- {reverse} I talk more in class than most people do.
- {reverse} Most people are more shy than I am.
l: mss_score
t: set
- sum $mss
l: feedback
t: info
q: Your McCroskey Shyness Scale score is {$mss_score} points.<br>
Non-shy people score between 14 and 20 points.<br>
People with a high level of shyness have a score over 52 points.<br>
Scores below 32 points indicate a low level of shyness.<br>
Scores between 32 and 52 indicate a moderate level of shyness.
References
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McCroskey, J. C., & Richmond, V. P. (1982). Communication apprehension and shyness: Conceptual and operational distinctions. Central States Speech Journal, 33, 458-468.
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Scale and scoring can be retrieved from McCroskey’s website.
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Kagan, J., Reznick, J.S., Snidman, N. (1988). Biological basis of childhood shyness. Science, 240 (4849), 167-171
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Kagan, J., Reznick, J.S., Gibbons, J. (1989). Inhibited and Uninhibited Types of Children. Child Development, 60, 838-845.
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Cheek, J. and Buss, A.H. (1979). Scales of Shyness, Sociability, and Self-Esteem and Correlations Among Them, unpublished research report, University of Texas. Note: This report is often cited.
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Hopko, D.R., Stowell, J., Jones, W.H., Armento, M.E.A. and Cheek, J.M. (2005). Journal of Personality Assessment, 84, 185-192.