National Institute for Health and Care Research

Measure

Focus of Attention Questionnaire (FAQ)

Age range 18
Completion time 10 Minutes
Respondent Self Report
Problem areas
Anxiety

Overview

The FAQ measures focus of attention in a recent social situation. Negative self-focus in social situations is indicated as a mechanism involved in the maintenance of social anxiety disorder.

Scoring & Interpretation

The FAQ is made up of two scales each containing five items, with one scale assessing self-focus and the other assessing external focus of attention during a recent social situation. Respondents indicate their agreement on a five-point scale from 'Not at all' to 'Totally'. To score the FAQ take the average of the five items to calculate each subscale score (one score for self-focus of attention, and the other for external focus of attention) - the subscales are independent.

Psychometric Properties

Internal Consistency

Internal consistency was acceptable for both scales, with Cronbach's alpha = .76 and .72 for the self-focus and external focus scales, respectively.

Test-Retest Reliability

Not reported.

Factor Structure

Validity

The self-focus scale is not strongly correlated with measures of private self-consciousness, supporting divergent validity.

Measurement Invariance

Access

Not reported. Full details of the measure are in the appendix of the original paper.

Citation

Woody, S. R., Chambless, D. L., & Glass, C. R. (1997). Self-focused attention in the treatment of social phobia. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 35(2), 117–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7967(96)00084-8    

Original Reference

Woody, S. R., Chambless, D. L., & Glass, C. R. (1997). Self-focused attention in the treatment of social phobia. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 35(2), 117–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7967(96)00084-8

References

Woody, S. R. (1996). Effects of focus of attention on anxiety levels and social performance of individuals with social phobia. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 105(1), 61. https://doi.org/10.1037//0021-843x.105.1.61

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