Tromsø Social Intelligence Scale (TSIS)

Abstract

The Tromso Social Intelligence Scale (TSIS) is a self-report measure designed to assess the multidimensional construct of Social Intelligence (SI). Developed by Silvera, Martinussen, and Dahl in 2001, the instrument consists of 21 items distributed across three distinct factors: Social Skills, Social Awareness, and Social Information Processing. It utilizes a 7-point Likert scale and is widely used in academic research to evaluate an individual’s competence in navigating social interactions and understanding others’ behaviors and emotions. The scale offers researchers a concise and psychometrically sound tool for quantifying social competence.

Keywords

Tromso Social Intelligence Scale, TSIS, Social Intelligence, Social Awareness, Social Skills, Social Information Processing, Psychometrics, Self-report.

Authors

Dimas Silvera, Monica Martinussen, Tor Dahl.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the TSIS is to provide a reliable and valid psychometric tool for measuring different facets of Social Intelligence, moving beyond earlier, less validated measures. It aims to operationalize SI as a measurable competence distinct from general cognitive intelligence. The scale focuses on assessing an individual’s ability to successfully perceive, understand, and manage social interactions.

The scale is instrumental for researchers seeking to correlate social competence with outcomes such as leadership potential, academic success, and overall psychological adjustment. Its structure allows for the assessment of specific social deficits or strengths across its three core dimensions, making it useful in clinical and organizational settings.

Construct

The TSIS measures Social Intelligence, which, within this framework, is conceptualized as the ability to understand and manage oneself and others in social interactions. The scale is empirically structured around three correlated, yet distinct, factors, reflecting a balanced view of SI encompassing cognitive, affective, and behavioral components.

• Social Information Processing: This factor relates to the cognitive component of SI, specifically the capacity to understand and predict others’ behavior, intentions, and internal states (e.g., feelings, wishes) based on available cues.
• Social Awareness: This dimension covers the sensitivity to social cues and the ability to avoid social blunders or misunderstandings. It involves recognizing how one’s own actions affect others and being attuned to others’ reactions, often encompassing emotional and behavioral interpretation.
• Social Skills: This factor measures the behavioral component of SI—the practical ability to engage effectively in social situations, manage interactions, initiate conversations, and generally “fit in” comfortably with new people or groups.

Validity

The psychometrics of the TSIS suggest strong construct validity, supported by the clear factor structure identified through factor analysis in the original study. The three-factor model aligns well with modern theoretical conceptualizations of social competence, demonstrating that the scale measures the intended, distinct components of Social Intelligence.

Further validity evidence is often gathered through correlations with established personality inventories and measures of interpersonal effectiveness. Scores on the TSIS dimensions are expected to show convergent validity with measures of empathy and divergent validity from measures of general cognitive ability.

Reliability

The TSIS demonstrates acceptable to good internal consistency reliability across its subscales, as reported in the initial validation study by Silvera et al. (2001). Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients, confirming that items within each factor are highly intercorrelated:

• Social Skills: α = .85
• Social Awareness: α = .72
• Social Information Processing: α = .79

These reliability values are generally considered robust for a psychological instrument, indicating that the scale provides consistent measurement of the underlying constructs.

Factor Analysis

The structural integrity of the TSIS is established through factor analysis, which consistently supports a three-factor model. This structure partitions the 21 items into three conceptually meaningful dimensions of Social Intelligence, ensuring that the scale provides a detailed profile rather than a single global score.

The item distribution across the three factors is based on the original psychometric analysis:

• Social Skills (7 items): Items 4, 7, 10, 12, 15, 18, and 20. This factor measures behavioral competence in social settings.
• Social Awareness (7 items): Items 2, 5, 8, 11, 13, 16, and 21. This factor measures sensitivity to social cues and recognition of social errors.
• Social Information Processing (7 items): Items 1, 3, 6, 9, 14, 17, and 19. This factor measures cognitive ability to interpret and predict social events.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report measure; Psychometric scale.

Format: 21 items scored on a 7-point Likert scale.

Language Available: Primarily English and Norwegian; translations available in various research contexts.

Population Group: General population; validated primarily on adult samples.

Age Group: Adolescents and Adults (typically 18 years and older).

Population Details: The original validation sample consisted of university students in Tromso, Norway.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate the degree to which each statement accurately describes them, using the scale where 1=Describes me extremely poorly and 7=Describes me extremely well. Specific items are reverse-scored prior to calculating subscale totals.

Keywords

Social Awareness, Social Skills, Interpersonal competence, Psychological assessment, Factor structure, Likert scale.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not specified in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not specified in source material.

Correspondence Address: Correspondence generally directed to the Department of Psychology, University of Tromso, Norway (based on initial publication context).

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale was first published in 2001. As a widely published academic instrument, the TSIS is generally available for non-commercial research and educational use, provided the original authors and publication are appropriately cited. Permissions for commercial use should be sought from the authors or the journal publisher.

The original PDF of an instrument utilizing the scale can be downloaded here: http://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/bitstream/10092/5185/2/thesis_fulltext.pdf

Reference’s

The primary references for the development and validation of the TSIS are:

• Silvera, D., Martinussen, M., & Dahl, T. (2001). The Tromso social intelligence scale, a self-report measure of social intelligence. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 42(4), 313 – 319.
• Condon, R. J. (2011). The Relationship between Self-Awareness and Leadership: Extending Measurement and Conceptualisation. University of Canterbury. Master of Science Thesis.

Items of the Tromso Social Intelligence Scale (TSIS)

1. I can predict other people‘s behaviour.

2. I often feel that it is difficult to understand others choices.

3. I know how my actions will make others feel.

4. I often feel uncertain around new people who I don‘t know.

5. People often surprise me with the things they do.

6. I understand other people‘s feelings.

7. I fit in easily in social situations.

8. Other people become angry with me without me being able to explain why.

9. I understand other‘s wishes.

10. I am good at entering new situations and meeting people for the first time.

11. It seems as though people are often angry or irritated with me when I say what I think.

12. I have a hard time getting along with other people.

13. I find people unpredictable.

14. I can often understand what others are trying to accomplish without the need for them to say anything.

15. It takes a long time for me to get to know others well.

16. I have often hurt others without realizing it.

17. I can predict how others will react to my behaviour.

18. I am good at getting on good terms with new people.

19. I can often understand what others really mean through their expression‚ body language‚ etc.

20. I frequently have problems finding good conversation topics.

21. I am often surprised by others reactions to what I do.