This 36-item self report, Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR), is used to evaluate the construct of adult attachment. Subjects answer each of the 36 statements about connection using a 7-point likert scale which ranges from 1-strongly disagree to 7-strongly agree.
Author: Brennan, Clark, & Shaver (1998).
Revised: Fraley, Waller, and Brennan (2000)
Validity and Reliability
According to studies formulated by investigators such as: Lopez & Gormely & Simko (2001), Vogel & Wei (2005), and Waller Fraley, the ECR instrument showed high reliability. The test-retest had Cronbach alpha rating of .93 for the Anxiety scale and the .95 for the Avoidance scale.
Brenann conducted his study by presenting a series of present relationship scales to a group of 1100 college graduates and finding two correlating factors – anxiety and avoidance.
Obtaining the ECR
http://www.psych.uiuc.edu/~rcfraley/measures/ecrr.htm
References
Ainsworth, M. S., Blehar, M. C., Waters, E., & Wall, S. (1978). Patterns of attachment: A psychological study of the strange situation. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Brennan, K. A., Clark, C. L., & Shaver, P. R. (1998). Self-report measurement of adult attachment: An integrative overview. In J. A. Simpson & W.
S. Rholes (Eds.), Attachment theory and close relationships (pp. 46–76). New York: Guilford.Psychology, 9, 439–455.
Fraley, R. C., Waller, N. G., & Brennan, K. A. (2000). An item response theory analysis of self-report measures of adult attachment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78, 350–365.
Wei, M., Mallinckrodt, B., Russell, D. W., & Abraham, T. W. (2004). Maladaptive perfectionism as a mediator and moderator between attachment and negative mood. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 51, 201– 212.
Zung, W. K. (1965). A Self-Rating Depression Scale. Archives of General Psychiatry, 12, 63–70.
