Disclosiveness

Abstract

The Disclosiveness Scale is a psychological instrument developed to measure distinct dimensions of an individual’s tendency toward self-disclosure, particularly within a professional or organizational setting. This scale operationalizes self-disclosure into five measurable factors: Intent, Amount, Positiveness, Depth, and Honesty. Comprising 30 items, the instrument utilizes a 7-point Likert response format to quantify how respondents perceive their general communication patterns and the nature of the personal information they share with others in the workplace. The scale serves as a valuable tool for research in organizational communication and interpersonal relationships, providing granular insight into the complexity of transparency and openness.

Keywords

Disclosiveness, Self-Disclosure, Communication, Organizational Behavior, Interpersonal Communication, Psychometrics, Likert Scale, Trust, Solidarity.

Authors

L. Wheeless

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Disclosiveness Scale is to provide a multidimensional assessment of an individual’s self-disclosure behavior. Unlike instruments that only measure the quantity of disclosure, this scale aims to differentiate various qualitative aspects, such as the conscious motivation behind sharing information (Intent), the subjective nature (Positiveness), the level of intimacy (Depth), and the perceived truthfulness (Honesty). This detailed measurement allows researchers to explore how different aspects of self-disclosure correlate with outcomes like interpersonal solidarity and trust in organizational or social contexts.

The scale specifically directs respondents to reflect on their communication habits within their working environment or organization, making it highly applicable for research focusing on workplace relationships, leadership transparency, and team dynamics.

Construct

The construct measured is Disclosiveness, defined as the conscious and intentional act of revealing personal, private, or intimate information about oneself to another party. The scale breaks this complex construct down into five distinct, yet interrelated, dimensions:

• Intent (3 items): Measures the degree to which self-disclosure is conscious and deliberate, rather than accidental or unintentional.
• Amount (7 items): Quantifies the frequency and duration of personal disclosures.
• Positiveness (7 items): Assesses the valence of the disclosed information—whether the individual tends to reveal positive/desirable or negative/undesirable aspects of themselves.
• Depth (5 items): Measures the level of intimacy or personal significance of the information shared.
• Honesty (8 items): Evaluates the perceived truthfulness, sincerity, and accuracy of the self-disclosures made by the individual.

Validity

The validity of the Disclosiveness Scale, as detailed in the foundational research by Wheeless (1978), was established through rigorous psychometric testing. The multi-factor structure suggests strong construct validity, as the five dimensions align theoretically with established models of self-disclosure (e.g., Altman & Taylor’s Social Penetration Theory).

The scale was validated in the context of its relationship with other key communication variables, demonstrating criterion validity by correlating significantly with measures of trust and interpersonal solidarity, thereby confirming its utility in predicting relational outcomes.

Reliability

Reliability estimates for the Disclosiveness Scale, typically reported using internal consistency measures such as Cronbach’s alpha, indicate that the subscales are cohesive and stable. High reliability across the five dimensions (Intent, Amount, Positiveness, Depth, and Honesty) ensures that the items within each factor consistently measure the intended aspect of self-disclosure. Researchers utilizing this instrument should consult the original 1978 publication for specific alpha coefficients and test-retest reliability data.

Factor Analysis

The scale structure is a direct result of factor analytic procedures, confirming the existence of five distinct factors underlying the broad concept of self-disclosure. The factor analysis separated the 30 items into the five hypothesized dimensions, supporting the instrument’s ability to provide a nuanced profile of a communicator rather than just a single, global score. This factor structure is essential for distinguishing between the quantity of disclosure (Amount) and the quality of disclosure (Depth and Honesty).

Instrument

Test Type: Self-Report Questionnaire / Psychological Scale

Format: 30 items using a 7-point Likert scale response format.

Language Available: English (Original)

Population Group: Adults engaged in interpersonal or organizational communication.

Age Group: Typically 18+ (Adults)

Population Details: Individuals who communicate with others in an organizational setting (workplace communication).

Test Methodology: Respondents are asked to rate statements regarding their general communication behavior within their workplace organization. The rating scale is defined as: 1=Strongly Disagree, 2=Disagree, 3=Moderately Disagree, 4=Undecided, 5=Moderately Agree, 6=Agree, and 7=Strongly Agree. Scoring involves summing or averaging item responses within each of the five subscales.

Keywords

Intentionality, Disclosure Depth, Honesty in Communication, Positivity Bias, Communication Measurement, Organizational Psychology.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not publicly available/known for this author at the time of publication.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in the source material.

Correspondence Address: Not provided in the source material.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Disclosiveness Scale was developed and published in 1978. Permissions for use are typically governed by standard academic research practices, often requiring citation of the original source. Researchers should contact the journal or the author’s affiliated institution for current usage guidelines, though the scale is generally considered public domain for non-commercial academic research given its age and foundational status in the field.

Reference’s

• Wheeless, L. (1978). A follow-up study of the relationships among trust, disclosure, and interpersonal solidarity. Human Communication Research, 4(2), 143-157.

Items of the Disclosiveness

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

The instructions provided to the participant are:

Please mark the following statements to reflect how you communicate with other people in general in the organization in which you work. Record the number of your response by circling the number provided. Work quickly and just record your first impression. NOTE: THE RATING SCALE HAS CHANGED as follows: 1=Strongly Disagree‚ 2=Disagree‚ 3=Moderately Disagree‚ 4=Undecided‚ 5=Moderately Agree‚ 6=Agree‚ and 7=Strongly Agree.

The original 30 items are: