Stop and Start Control Scales

Abstract

The Stop and Start Control Scales (SSCS) constitute a 17-item psychological scale designed to measure two distinct, yet interrelated, facets of self-control. Developed by De Boer, Van Hooft, and Bakker (2011), this instrument moves beyond traditional unitary measures of self-regulation by empirically separating inhibitory control (Stop Control) from initiatory and persistent control (Start Control). Stop Control measures the ability to suppress unwanted or impulsive behaviors, while Start Control assesses the capacity to initiate and sustain effort toward necessary but challenging goals, often despite internal or external obstacles. The differentiation between these two factors provides researchers with a more nuanced understanding of volitional strength and its differential impact on various behavioral outcomes.

Keywords

Self-control, self-regulation, inhibitory control, persistence, volitional strength, Stop Control, Start Control, personality, psychological scale.

Authors

De Boer, B. J., Van Hooft, E. A. J., Bakker, A. B.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Stop and Start Control Scales is to provide a reliable and valid measure that captures the multidimensional nature of self-control. By distinguishing between the ability to “stop” undesirable actions and the ability to “start” and “maintain” desirable actions, the scale enables researchers to test specific hypotheses regarding the mechanism underlying behavioral regulation.

This distinction is crucial for improving the prediction of outcomes in various domains, including health psychology, organizational behavior, and educational settings. The instrument allows for a more precise assessment of an individual’s regulatory failures, determining whether difficulties stem from a lack of inhibition or a deficit in persistence and initiation.

Construct

The scale measures Self-Control, conceptualized here as comprising two primary, separable constructs:

• Stop Control (Inhibition): This dimension reflects the capacity for impulse suppression, the avoidance of temptation, and the ability to desist from behaviors that are recognized as detrimental or inappropriate. High scores indicate a strong ability to inhibit immediate gratification and follow rules.
• Start Control (Persistence/Initiation): This dimension reflects the capacity for effortful striving, task initiation, and maintenance of focus in the face of distraction, fatigue, or lack of intrinsic motivation. High scores indicate a strong ability to persevere at important tasks and complete necessary duties.

Validity

The original research establishing the SSCS provided evidence for the construct validity of the two-factor structure. Through confirmatory factor analysis, the empirical model supported the theoretical separation of Stop and Start control dimensions. These constructs, while correlated, were shown to function as distinct psychological mechanisms.

Furthermore, the scale exhibits evidence of discriminant validity, as the two subscales differentially predict relevant external criteria. Stop Control is typically a stronger predictor of impulsive behaviors (e.g., spending, eating), whereas Start Control is a stronger predictor of effortful, sustained engagement in long-term goals (e.g., academic performance, work persistence). This differential predictive power supports the utility of measuring these dimensions independently.

Reliability

The internal consistency of the Stop and Start Control Scales was assessed using Cronbach’s Alpha in the scale development study. Both subscales demonstrated acceptable to good reliability scores, confirming that the items within each subscale consistently measure their intended construct.

• Stop Control Subscale: Alpha = 0.73
• Start Control Subscale: Alpha = 0.72

Factor Analysis

The conceptual framework of the SSCS is empirically supported by a two-factor structure identified through factor analysis. This analysis confirmed that items measuring inhibitory control (Stop Control) load distinctly from items measuring persistence and initiation (Start Control).

This finding is central to the scale’s contribution, as it provides statistical evidence against a purely unitary model of self-control, suggesting that regulatory failure may be domain-specific—either a failure to inhibit (Stop) or a failure to activate (Start).

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report questionnaire, Psychological scale.

Format: 17 items utilizing a 7-point Likert scale.

Language Available: English (Original research language).

Population Group: General adult population.

Age Group: Typically 18 years and older.

Population Details: The scale is designed for use in non-clinical samples to assess everyday self-regulatory capacity.

Test Methodology: Participants are instructed to rate their agreement with each statement on a scale ranging from 1 (completely disagree) to 7 (completely agree). Scores are calculated separately for the Stop Control (Items 1-9) and Start Control (Items 10-17) subscales, adjusting for reverse-coded items.

Keywords

Inhibition, persistence, self-regulation, self-control, impulsivity, effortful control, psychological measurement, scale development.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A (Information not provided in source).

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A (Information not provided in source).

Correspondence Address: Correspondence details typically routed through the primary publishing institution (Erasmus University Rotterdam, based on PDF source).

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Test Year: 2011.

Permissions and Fee: As a published academic instrument, the scale is generally available for non-commercial academic research purposes without charge. Researchers should cite the primary publication (De Boer et al., 2011) and contact the authors for permission regarding commercial use or translation.

Reference’s

De Boer, B. J., Van Hooft, E A. J. and Bakker, A. B. (2011). Stop and Start Control: A Distinction within Self-control. European Journal of Personality, Eur. J. Pers. 25(5): 349–362.

The original instrument details and supporting dissertation material can be found in the following PDF documents:

• The original PDF can be downloaded here: https://repub.eur.nl/pub/31131/Tekst%20proefschrift_Stop%20and%20Start%20control_BJ%20de%20Boer.pdf

• The original PDF can be downloaded here: http://www.beanmanaged.com/doc/pdf/arnoldbakker/articles/articles_arnold_bakker_258.pdf

Items of the Stop and start control scales

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

(*) Indicates reverse coding.

Stop Control (Items 1-9)

1. During shopping I make impulsive purchases *
2. I can easily stop doing something fun that I know to be bad for me
3. I do things spontaneously as soon as I think of them *
4. I stick to the rules even if I find them unreasonable
5. When it comes to spending money‚ I find it difficult to control myself*
6. I never take action without thinking about it first
7. I find it easy to save money
8. Before I do something I go over the possible consequences
9. I find it fun to break rules and do things that I shouldn’t *

Start Control (Items 10-17)

10. I persevere at important tasks‚ even if I’m afraid something might go wrong
11. I find it difficult to do tasks that I hate doing *
12. I find it difficult ha‎ving to restart something after I thought I was already done *
13. I’m still able to concentrate when things around me are very hectic
14. Even if I don’t feel like it‚ I’m able to complete the tasks that needed to be done
15. When there is much distraction‚ I’m able to focus on one thing in order to get it done
16. When my mind wanders while I’m reading‚ It’s easy for my to concentrate on the text again
17. I’m able to continue working even when severely tired‚ if something really needs to be done