The convergent validity of acquiescence: an empirical study relating balanced scales and separate acquiescence scales

The convergent validity of the hypothetical construct of acquiescence was investigated in a sample of 207 psychology undergraduates by using three different methods: (1) separate acquiescence scales, (2) balanced scales, and (3) the procedure proposed by Winkler, Kanouse and Ware (1982). The study used recently developed factor-analytic procedures to obtain acquiescence scores, and was designed to overcome some of the drawbacks of previous empirical research. The results suggested that there was some degree of generalizability between the different measures. However, the correlational structure was very weak. Furthermore, the analyses suggested that ‘method’ effects accounted for some of the relations observed between the separate acquiescence scales.