Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Created: January 02, 2017
Last Modified: January 14, 2023 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Script Copyright © Millisecond Software, LLC
This script implements a computerized version of the Flow Short Scale to study intrinsic motivation.
'Flow' = positive feeling of balance btw. challenges of tasks and personal abilities to tackle them. It can further be characterized as a psychological state in which the person feels simultaneously cognitively efficient, motivated, and happy without apparent external rewards (see Moneta & Csikszentmihalyi 1996, as cited in: Engeser & Rheinberg, 2008).
The implemented procedure is based on:
Engeser, S. & Rheinberg, F. (2008). Flow, performance and moderators of challenge-skill balance. Motiv Emot, 32:158–172.
With three additional (optional) questions based on:
Keller, J., & Landhäußer, A. (2011). Im Flow sein: Experimentelle Analysen des Zustands optimaler Beanspruchung [Experiencing fl ow: Experimental analyses of the experiential state resulting from optimal task demands]. Psychologische Rundschau, 62 , 213–220.
1.5 minutes
A 10-item, 7-point Likert scale self-report questionnaire with 6 items measuring subscale
"Fluency of Performance" and 4 items measuring subscale "Absorption by Activity"
and additional 3 questions, 9-point Likert scales.
Three optional questions suggested by Keller & Landhäußer (2011) can be run if
parameters.runAdditionalQuestions is set to true under section 'Editable Parameters'
Instructions are based on:
Jackson, S.A., & Marsh, H.W. (1996). Development and validation of a scale to measure
optimal experience: The flow state scale. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology,
18, 17–35.
They can be edited under section Editable Parameters
(1)q1-q10: questions on 2 subscales by Engeser & Rheinberg (2008)
- 4 questions 'absorption by activity': q1, q3, q6, q10
- 6 questions 'performance fluency': q2, q4, q5, q7, q8, q9
• 7 point Likert scale (range:1-7)
(2) q1AddOn-q3AddOn: questions by Keller & Landhäußer (2011) - optional (see parameters.runAdditionalQuestions)
• 7 point Likert scale (range:1-7); same scale as q1-q10
(3) q11-q13: additional questions by Engeser & Rheinberg (2008)
• 9 point Likert scale (range: 1-9)
File Name: flowshortscale_summary.iqdat' (Inquisit Lab: one data file per participant)
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| inquisit.version | Inquisit version number |
| computer.platform | Device platform: win | mac |ios | android |
| 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 |
| completed | 0 = Test was not completed 1 = Test was completed |
| total | Sum of 'performance fluency' and 'absorption' scores (range: 10-70) |
| performanceFluency | Subtotal on scale 'fluency of performance' (Range: 6-42) the higher the score, the higher the reported performance fluency |
| absorption | Subtotal on scale 'absorption by activity' (Range: 4-28) the higher the score, the higher the reported activity absorption + individual responses |
File Name: flowshortscale_survey.iqdat
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| date | Date the session was run |
| time | Time the session was run |
| subject, group, session | With the current subject/groupnumber/session id |
| build | Inquisit version number |
| q*_response | Response given (in assigned values) q1-q10: questions on 2 subscales by Engeser & Rheinberg (2008) A = absorption by activity PF = performance fluency * 7 point Likert scale (range:1-7) q1AddOn-q3AddOn: questions by Keller & Landhäußer (2011) - OPTIONAL (see parameters.runAdditionalQuestions) * 7 point Likert scale (range:1-7); same scale as q1-q10 q11-q13: additional questions by Engeser & Rheinberg (2008) * 9 point Likert scale (range: 1-9) |
| 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) |
The procedure can be adjusted by setting the following parameters.
| Name | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| pageInstructions | The default instructions displayed on each surveyPage | |
| runAdditionalQuestions | True (1) = the optional questions by Keller, J., & Landhäußer, A. (2011) are run false (0) = the optional questions by Keller, J., & Landhäußer, A. (2011) are skipped (default) |