Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Created: April 02, 2021
Last Modified: June 05, 2026 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Script Copyright © Millisecond Software, LLC
This script implements the Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS) by Meerkert et al (2009).
Meerkerk, G.J., Van Den Eijnden, R.J., Vermulst, A.A., & Garretsen, H.F. (2009). The Compulsive Internet Use Scale (CIUS): some psychometric properties. Cyberpsychol Behav, 12(1), 1-6. doi: 10.1089/cpb.2008.0181. PMID: 19072079.
Guertler D, Rumpf HJ, Bischof A, Kastirke N, Petersen KU, John U, Meyer C (2014). Assessment of problematic internet use by the Compulsive Internet Use Scale and the Internet Addiction Test: a sample of problematic and pathological gamblers. Eur Addict Res. 2014;20(2):75-81. doi: 10.1159/000355076. Epub 2013 Sep 27. PMID: 24080838.
1 minute
14 5-point Likert scale items to cover 5 core elements of compulsive internet use: Items 1, 2, 5, and 9 covers loss of control Items 3, 8, 10, and 11 covering conflict Items 4, 6, and 7 covers preoccupation Items 12 and 13 cover coping Item 14 covers withdrawal symptoms
File Name: cius_summary.iqdat
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| startDate | Date the session was run |
| startTime | Time the session was run |
| subjectId | Participant ID |
| groupId | Group number |
| sessionId | Session number |
| elapsedTime | Session duration in ms |
| inquisit.version | Inquisit version number |
| computer.platform | Device platform: win | mac |ios | android |
| computer.touch | 0 = device has no touchscreen capabilities; 1 = device has touchscreen capabilities |
| computer.hasKeyboard | 0 = no external keyboard detected; 1 = external keyboard detected |
| completed | 0 = Test was not completed 1 = Test was completed |
| ciusTotalScore | The sum of all 14 individual responses (on scale from 0-4) Range: 0 - 56 Guertler et al (2014) suggest a threshold of 21 to assess and capture early stage problematic Internet use. |
File Name: cius.iqdat
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| date | Date the session was run |
| time | Time the session was run |
| subject | Participant ID |
| group | Group number |
| session | Session number |
| build | Inquisit version number |
| q*_response | Response given (in assigned values) Scale: never (0) - very often (4) |
| q*_latency | How much time (in ms) the participant spent on the surveyPage with this particular question (the last time this particular surveyPage was visited) |