APPENDIX I from: Thayer, R. E. (1989). The Biopsychology of Mood and Arousal. New York:
Oxford University Press.

The AD ACL is a multidimensional test of various transitory arousal states, including energetic and tense arousal (see Chapter 3). It has been used widely in many psychophysiological (e.g., Mackay, 1980) and psychological contexts,* and it has taken a variety of language forms (e.g., Bohlin & Kjellberg, 1973 -- Swedish version; Grzegolowska-Klarkowska, 1980 -- Polish version; Mackay et al., 1978 -- Anglicized version). Within the wider dimensions of energetic and tense arousal are four subscales--Energy (General Activation), Tiredness (Deactivation-Sleep), Tension (High Activation), and Calmness (General Deactivation).

The above parenthetical designations were given in the 1960s (Thayer, 1967), before the multidimensional arousal model was conceptualized its present form. If these parenthetical names were to be modified at the present time they would be somewhat different. For example, the parenthetical name associated with Tiredness would probably now be General Deactivation, thus indicating that it is likely to represent the opposite pole from General Activation. Other names associated with Tension and Calmness might be High and Low Preparatory-Emergency Activation (or Arousal, thus indicating the likely function of these kinds of arousal.

The self-rating response format used in this test originally followed a format employed by Nowlis (1965) with the Mood Adjective Check List. This four-point self-rating system is slightly unconventional in comparison with the more usual three- five-, or seven-point formats used in a number of other adjective checklists. Also, the verbal anchors of the AD ACL (as well as of the Mood Adjective Check List), although quite meaningful, are not completely symmetrical.

In order to determine if these somewhat unconventional features result in important differences, a study was recently completed to compare factor structures using different self-rating formats (Thayer, 1986). In this research, little difference was observed between the usual AD ACL format and others. Additional evidence for the validity of the AD ACL format may be found in other studies that employed it, and that obtained findings consistent with both mood and general arousal theories (Purcell, 1982; Watson & Tellegen, 1985). Therefore, the format most often employed with the AD ACL appears to be satisfactory. Alternatively, other more conventional formats probably can be employed with little difference in results as long as the factor groupings are maintained.

Following is the AD ACL Short Form with the self-descriptive adjectives of Energy (Al), Tiredness (A2), Tension (Bl), and Calmness (B2). Scoring is based on four possible points for each adjective. A common procedure in many studies has been to score only Al and Bl, since they are the best indications of energetic and tense arousal respectively. A2 and B2 are particularly useful if the primary purpose of the study is to focus on the low arousal states of each dimension (Tiredness and Calmness). However, use of the full range of dimensions tends to reduce somewhat the strength of the relationships observed between arousal and other behaviors. This may be because people often do not make good discriminations of states of calmness, or it may occur because different processes underlie the pole opposites of each dimension (see Chapter 3).

(front page)

AD ACL Short Form

Each of the words on the back describes feelings or mood. Please use the rating scale next to each word to describe your feelings at this moment.

EXAMPLES

Work rapidly, but please mark all the words. Your first reaction is best. This should take only a minute or two.

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vv v ? no : definitely feel

vv v ? no : feel slightly

vv v ? no : cannot decide

vv v ? no : definitely do not feel

The AD ACL is scored by assigning 4, 3, 2, and 1, respectively to the "vv, v, ?" and "no" scale points, and summing or averaging the five scores for each subscale. (An appropriate template can be easily constructed.) In order of appearance, the subscale adjectives are as follows: Energy (active, energetic, vigorous, lively, full-of-pep); Tired (sleepy, tired, drowsy, wide-awake, wakeful); Tension (jittery, intense, fearful, clutched-up, tense); Calmness (placid, calm, at-rest, still, quiet). Scoring for "wakeful" and "wide-awake" must be reversed for the Tiredness subscale. Tiredness and Calmness scores must be reversed (but not wakeful and wide-awake in this case) before summing the ten scores.

The AD ACL Long Form (Thayer, 1967, 1978) includes additional activation adjectives as well as filler adjectives to disguise the purpose of the test. It contains the same instructions except the respondents are told that the test will take only a couple of minutes to complete. Based on previous analyses (Thayer, 1967, 1978), the following adjectives are included on this form. The designations A1, A2, A3 and A4 after each significantly loaded activation adjective represent the subscales of Energy, Tiredness, Tension, and Calmness, respectively.

In order of appearance, the adjectives are: carefree, serious, peppy (A 1). pleased, placid (A4), leisurely (A4), sleepy (A2), jittery (A3), intense (A3), grouchy, energetic (A 1), egotistic, calm (A3, A4), suspicious, tired (A2), regretful, stirred-up (A3), warm-hearted, vigorous (Al), engaged-in-thought. at-rest (A4), elated, drowsy (A2), witty, anxious (A3), aroused, fearful (A3), lively (Al), defiant, still (A4), self-centered, wide-awake (Al, A2), skeptical, activated (Al), sad, full-of-pep (Al), affectionate, quiet (A4), concentrating, sluggish (Al, A2), overjoyed, quick (Al), nonchalant, quiescent (A4), clutched-up (A3), wakeful (Al, A2), rebellious, active (Al), blue, alert (Al), tense (A3). Since different numbers of activation adjectives are included in the four factors, these factor scores must be averaged instead of just summed if interfactor comparisons are to be made.

Reliability of AD ACL

The reliabilities of the four subscales are known from the following studies.  In the first study (Thayer, 1967) eight of the activation-descriptive adjectives from the four subscales were repeated a second time while embedded in the larger group of adjectives (150 Ss), thus allowing test-retest assessments.  The median correlation coefficient of the eight adjectives was .75.  In a second test-retest study (Thayer, 1978) with 55 Ss involving all 20 adjectives, the following reliability estimates were obtained: Energy = .89; Tension = .93; Calmness = .79; Tiredness = .89.  Finally, in a third study (Thayer, 1978), the reliability of the four subscales based on average factor communalities (486 Ss) yielded the following reliabilities: Energy = .92; Tension = .89; Calmness = .89; Tiredness = .90.

* In addition to studies reviewed in this book, see Social Sciences Citation Index with Thayer, 1967, 1978, 1986, 1989) as search references.

Thayer Direct References to AD ACL

Thayer, R. E. (1967). Measurement of activation through self-report. Psychological Reports, 20, 663-678.

Thayer, R. E. (1978). Factor analytic and reliability studies on the Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List. Psychological Reports, 42, 747-756.

Thayer, R. E. (1986). Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List (AD ACL): Current overview and structural analysis. Psychological Reports, 58, 607-614.

Thayer, R. E. (1989). The Biopsychology of Mood and Arousal. New York: Oxford University Press.