PerceivedAutonomySupport:TheClimateQuestionnaires

ScaleDescription
OneofthecentraltenetsofSDTisthatthequalityofsocialcontextsinfluencesthemotivation,
performance,andwellbeingofindividualswhooperatewithinthem.Thetheoryusesthe
conceptofautonomysupportversuscontroltocharacterizethequalityofsocialenvironments,
hypothesizingthatautonomysupportivesocialcontextstendtofacilitateselfdetermined
motivation,healthydevelopment,andoptimalfunctioning.

InmuchoftheSDTfieldresearch,weareconcernedwiththedegreetowhichthesocialcontext
isautonomysupportivefortargetindividualssuchasstudents,employees,patients,orathletes.
Thesescalesconcernthedegreetowhichthetargetindividualsperceivepeopleinpositionsof
authoritytheirteachers,managers,healthcareproviders,orcoachestobeautonomy
supportive.Thus,whereastheMotivatorsOrientationScalesarecompletebypeoplein
positionsofauthorityaboutthemselves,theClimateQuestionnairesarecompletedbythe
individualsoverwhomtheyhaveauthority.TheClimateQuestionnairesyieldascoreona7
pointscalewhichindicatesthedegreetowhichhealthcareproviders,instructors,managers,or
coachesareperceivedtobeautonomysupportive.Higherscoresindicategreaterperceived
autonomysupport.Eachquestionnairecanbeusedeitherinalong,15itemversion,orashort5
itemversion.Acrossdomains,thealphacoefficientofinternalconsistentlyisvirtuallyalways
above0.90.Theshortformmaybeslightlylessbuthasalwaysbeengood.

TherearefourClimateQuestionnairespresentedhere,eachonitsownpage.

*TheHealthCareClimateQuestionnaire(HCCQ)

*TheLearningClimateQuestionnaire(LCQ)

*TheWorkClimateQuestionnaire(WCQ)

*TheSportClimateQuestionnaire(SCQ)
TheHealthCareClimateQuestionnaire(HCCQ)

TheHCCQhasalongformcontaining15itemsandashortformcontaining6oftheitems.
Therearealsovariantstothequestionnaire.Specifically,dependingontheissuebeing
examined,theHCCQcanbeusedtoassesspatientsperceptionsofthedegreetowhichtheir
specificdoctorisautonomysupportive,oritcanbeusedtoassesspatientsperceptionsofthe
degreetowhichtheirteamofhealthcareprovidersisautonomysupportive.Thelatterwouldbe
moreappropriateforexample,ifpatientsareseeingseveralproviderswithinaclinictodealwith
aparticularproblem.Forexample,patientswithdiabetesmayseeaphysician,anurseeducator,
andadietician,allworkingtogethertotreatthedisease.Ifaresearcherwereinterestedinthe
relationbetweenphysiciansinterpersonalstyleandtheirpatientsmotivation,behavior,and
health,thequestionnaireisbestusedwithrespecttotheindividualdoctor.Iftheresearch
questionconcernstheinterpersonalclimateofaclinicorgroupofproviders,theword
providersorpractitionersissubstitutedforphysicianordoctor.Below,youwillfindthe
15itemversionofthequestionnaire,wordedintermsofmyphysician.Ifyouwouldliketo
usethe6itemversion,simplyreconstitutethequestionnaireusingonlyitems#1,2,4,7,10,and
14.

Scoring:Scoresonboththe15itemversionandthe6itemversionarecalculatedbyaveraging
theindividualitemscores.However,forthelongversion,beforeaveragingtheitemscores,you
mustfirstreversethescoreofitem13(i.e.,subtractthescoreonitem13from8andusethe
resultastheitemscoreforthisitemforexample,thescoreof3,whenreversedwouldbecome
5).Higheraveragescoresrepresentahigherlevelofperceivedautonomysupport.

************

HealthCareClimateQuestionnaire

Thisquestionnairecontainsitemsthatarerelatedtoyourvisitswithyourdoctor.Physicians
havedifferentstylesindealingwithpatients,andwewouldliketoknowmoreabouthowyou
havefeltaboutyourencounterswithyourphysician.Yourresponsesareconfidential.Pleasebe
honestandcandid.

1. Ifeelthatmyphysicianhasprovidedmechoicesandoptions.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
 strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

2. Ifeelunderstoodbymyphysician.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

3. Iamabletobeopenwithmyphysicianatourmeetings.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

4. Myphysicianconveysconfidenceinmyabilitytomakechanges.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

5. Ifeelthatmyphysicianacceptsme.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

6. MyphysicianhasmadesureIreallyunderstandaboutmyconditionandwhatIneedto
do.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

7. Myphysicianencouragesmetoaskquestions.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree
8. Ifeelalotoftrustinmyphysician.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

9. Myphysiciananswersmyquestionsfullyandcarefully.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

10. MyphysicianlistenstohowIwouldliketodothings.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

11. Myphysicianhandlespeople'semotionsverywell.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

12. Ifeelthatmyphysiciancaresaboutmeasaperson.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

13. Idon'tfeelverygoodaboutthewaymyphysiciantalkstome.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

14. MyphysiciantriestounderstandhowIseethingsbeforesuggestinganewwaytodo
things.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
 strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

15. Ifeelabletosharemyfeelingswithmyphysician.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

************

ArticlesthathaveUsedtheHealthCareClimateQuestionnaire(or
anearlierversion).

Williams,G.C.,Cox,E.M.,Kouides,R.,&Deci,E.L.(1999).Presentingthefacts
aboutsmokingtoadolescents:Theeffectsofanautonomysupportivestyle.Archivesof
PediatricsandAdolescentMedicine,153,959964.

Kasser,V.M.,&Ryan,R.M.(1999).Therelationofpsychologicalneedsforautonomy
andrelatednesstohealth,vitality,wellbeingandmortalityinanursinghome.Journalof
AppliedSocialPsychology,29,935954.

Williams,G.C.,Rodin,G.C.,Ryan,R.M.,Grolnick,W.S.,&Deci,E.L.(1998).
Autonomousregulationandadherencetolongtermmedicalregimensinadultoutpatients.
HealthPsychology,17,269276.

Williams,G.C.,Freedman,Z.R.,&Deci,E.L.(1998).Supportingautonomyto
motivateglucosecontrolinpatientswithdiabetes.DiabetesCare,21,16441651.

Williams,G.C.,Grow,V.M.,Freedman,Z.R.,Ryan,R.M.,&Deci,E.L.(1996).
Motivationalpredictorsofweightlossandweightlossmaintenance.JournalofPersonalityand
SocialPsychology,70,115126.

Williams,G.C.,Gagn,M,Ryan,R,M.,&Deci,E.L.(2000).Facilitatingautonomous
motivationforsmokingcessation.Manuscriptundereditorialreview.
 ************

TheHCCQasaratingdevice.

TheHCCQwasdesignedtobeusedbypatientstoreporttheirperceptionsoftheirdoctorsortheir
teamofhealthcareproviders.However,ithasalsobeenusedeffectivelyforhavingtrained
observersratetheautonomysupportivenessofaprovider,basedonlisteningtotaperecorded
interactionsbetweenprovidersandpatients.Observershavesomeinitialtraininguntiltheyare
abletoachievehighinterraterreliabilitywithotherobservers.Theraterlistenstothetapeand
respondstoeachitemasifheorshewerethepatients.Thescorefortheprovidersrated
autonomysupportistheaverageofthe15ratings.Typically,instudiesthatinvolveratings,there
areatleasttworaterssoastheassurereliability.Thesecanbeusedintwoways.Eitherthescores
oftwoormoreraterscanbeaveraged,or,iftheanalysesarebeingdonebyStructuralEquation
Modelling,theaverageraterscoreforeachofthreeraterscanbeusedasindicatorsofthelatent
variableratedproviderautonomysupport.

Thismethodwasusedinthefollowingstudy.

Williams,G.C.,&Deci,E.L.(inpress).Activatingpatientsforsmokingcessation
throughphysicianautonomysupport.MedicalCare.
TheLearningClimateQuestionnaire(LCQ)

TheLCQhasalongformcontaining15itemsandashortformcontaining6oftheitems.The
questionnaireistypicallyusedwithrespecttospecificlearningsettings,suchasaparticularclass,
atthecollegeorgraduateschoollevel.Thus,thequestionsaresometimesadaptedslightly,atleast
intheinstructions,sothewordingpertainstotheparticularsituationbeingstudiedanorganic
chemistryclass,forexample.Inthesecases,thequestionspertaintotheautonomysupportofan
individualinstructor,preceptor,orprofessor.If,however,itisbeingusedtoassessageneral
learningclimateinwhicheachstudenthasseveralinstructors,thequestionsarestatedwithrespect
totheautonomysupportofthefacultymembersingeneral.Below,youwillfindthe15item
versionofthequestionnaire,wordedintermsofmyinstructor.Ifyouwouldliketousethe6
itemversion,simplyreconstitutethequestionnaireusingonlyitems#1,2,4,7,10,and14.

Scoring:Scoresonboththe15itemversionandthe6itemversionarecalculatedbyaveraging
theindividualitemscores.However,forthelongversion,beforeaveragingtheitemscores,you
mustfirstreversethescoreofitem13(i.e.,subtractthescoreonitem13from8andusethe
resultastheitemscoreforthisitemforexample,thescoreof3,whenreversedwouldbecome5).
Higheraveragescoresrepresentahigherlevelofperceivedautonomysupport.

************

LearningClimateQuestionnaire

Thisquestionnairecontainsitemsthatarerelatedtoyourexperiencewithyourinstructorinthis
class.Instructorshavedifferentstylesindealingwithstudents,andwewouldliketoknowmore
abouthowyouhavefeltaboutyourencounterswithyourinstructor.Yourresponsesare
confidential.Pleasebehonestandcandid.

1. Ifeelthatmyinstructorprovidesmechoicesandoptions.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

2. Ifeelunderstoodbymyinstructor.
 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

3. Iamabletobeopenwithmyinstructorduringclass.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

4. Myinstructorconveyedconfidenceinmyabilitytodowellinthecourse.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

5. Ifeelthatmyinstructoracceptsme.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

6. MyinstructormadesureIreallyunderstoodthegoalsofthecourseandwhatIneedtodo.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

7. Myinstructorencouragedmetoaskquestions.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

8. Ifeelalotoftrustinmyinstructor.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree
9. Myinstructoranswersmyquestionsfullyandcarefully.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

10. MyinstructorlistenstohowIwouldliketodothings.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

11. Myinstructorhandlespeople'semotionsverywell.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

12. Ifeelthatmyinstructorcaresaboutmeasaperson.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

13. Idon'tfeelverygoodaboutthewaymyinstructortalkstome.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

14. MyinstructortriestounderstandhowIseethingsbeforesuggestinganewwaytodo
things.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

15. Ifeelabletosharemyfeelingswithmyinstructor.
 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

************

ArticlesthathaveUsedtheLearningClimateQuestionnaire

Black,A.E.,&Deci,E.L.(2000).Theeffectsofinstructorsautonomysupportand
studentsautonomousmotivationonlearningorganicchemistry:Aselfdeterminationtheory
perspective.ScienceEducation,84,740756.

Williams,G.C.,Saizow,R.,Ross,L.,&Deci,E.L.(1997).Motivationunderlyingcareer
choiceforinternalmedicineandsurgery.SocialScienceandMedicine,45,17051713.

Williams,G.C.,&Deci,E.L.(1996).Internalizationofbiopsychosocialvaluesby
medicalstudents:Atestofselfdeterminationtheory.JournalofPersonalityandSocial
Psychology,70,767779.

Williams,G.C.,Wiener,M.W.,Markakis,K.M.,Reeve,J.,&Deci,E.L.(1994).
Medicalstudentmotivationforinternalmedicine.JournalofGeneralInternalMedicine,9,327
333.
TheWorkClimateQuestionnaire(WCQ)

TheWCQhasalongformcontaining15itemsandashortformcontaining6oftheitems.The
questionnaireistypicallyusedwithrespecttospecificworksettings,suchasteamsorworkgroups
thathaveonemanager,andthewordingcanbechangedslightlytospecifytheparticularsituation
beingstudied.Inthesecases,thequestionspertaintotheautonomysupportoftherespondents
manager.If,however,theWCQisbeingusedtoassessageneralworkclimatethatgoesbeyonda
particularworkgroup,thequestionsarestatedwithrespecttotheautonomysupportingeneralof
themanagersofthatcompany,department,ororganization.Below,youwillfindthe15item
versionofthequestionnaire,wordedintermsofmymanager(orsupervisor).Ifyouwouldlike
tousethe6itemversion,simplyreconstitutethequestionnaireusingonlyitems#1,2,4,7,10and
14.

Scoring:Scoresonboththe15itemversionandthe6itemversionarecalculatedbyaveraging
theindividualitemscores.However,forthelongversion,beforeaveragingtheitemscores,you
mustfirstreversethescoreofitem13(i.e.,subtractthescoreonitem13from8andusethe
resultastheitemscoreforthisitemforexample,thescoreof3,whenreversedwouldbecome5).
Higheraveragescoresrepresentahigherlevelofperceivedautonomysupport.

************

WorkClimateQuestionnaire

Thisquestionnairecontainsitemsthatarerelatedtoyourexperiencewiththemanagerwhoisyour
mostimmediatesupervisor.Managershavedifferentstylesindealingwithemployees,andwe
wouldliketoknowmoreabouthowyouhavefeltaboutyourencounterswithyourmanager.Your
responsesareconfidential.Pleasebehonestandcandid.

1. Ifeelthatmymanagerprovidesmechoicesandoptions.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

2. Ifeelunderstoodbymymanager.
 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

3. Iamabletobeopenwithmymanageratwork.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

4. Mymanagerconveyedconfidenceinmyabilitytodowellatmyjob.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

5. Ifeelthatmymanageracceptsme.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

6. MymanagermadesureIreallyunderstoodthegoalsofmyjobandwhatIneedtodo.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

7. Mymanagerencouragedmetoaskquestions.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

8. Ifeelalotoftrustinmymanager.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree
9. Mymanageranswersmyquestionsfullyandcarefully.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

10. MymanagerlistenstohowIwouldliketodothings.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

11. Mymanagerhandlespeople'semotionsverywell.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

12. Ifeelthatmymanagercaresaboutmeasaperson.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

13. Idon'tfeelverygoodaboutthewaymymanagertalkstome.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

14. MymanagertriestounderstandhowIseethingsbeforesuggestinganewwaytodothings.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

15. Ifeelabletosharemyfeelingswithmymanager.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
 strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

************

ArticlesthathaveUsedtheWorkClimateQuestionnaire

Baard,P.P.,Deci,E.L.,&Ryan,R.M.(2000).Intrinsicneedsatisfactionasa
motivationalbasisofperformanceandwellbeingatwork.Unpublishedmanuscript,Fordham
University.(Availablefromanyoftheauthors.)
TheSupportClimateQuestionnaire(SCQ)

TheSCQhasalongformcontaining15itemsandashortformcontaining6oftheitems.The
questionnaireistypicallyusedwithrespecttospecificcoachesorindividualsincomparable
positionswithrespecttoasportorphysicalactivity.Thewordingcanbechangedslightlyto
specifytheparticularsituationbeingstudied.Thequestionsthenpertaintotheautonomysupport
oftherespondentscoach,trainer,orsport/exerciseinstructor.Below,youwillfindthe15item
versionofthequestionnaire,wordedintermsofmycoach(ortrainer).Ifyouwouldliketouse
the6itemversion,simplyreconstitutethequestionnaireusingonlyitems#1,2,4,7,10,and14.

Scoring:Scoresonboththe15itemversionandthe6itemversionarecalculatedbyaveraging
theindividualitemscores.However,forthelongversion,beforeaveragingtheitemscores,you
mustfirstreversethescoreofitem13(i.e.,subtractthescoreonitem13from8andusethe
resultastheitemscoreforthisitemforexample,thescoreof3,whenreversedwouldbecome5).
Higheraveragescoresrepresentahigherlevelofperceivedautonomysupport.

************

SupportClimateQuestionnaire

Thisquestionnairecontainsitemsthatarerelatedtoyourexperiencewithyourcoach(trainer).
Coacheshavedifferentstylesindealingwithathletes,andwewouldliketoknowmoreabouthow
youhavefeltaboutyourencounterswithyourcoach.Yourresponsesareconfidential.Pleasebe
honestandcandid.

1. Ifeelthatmycoachprovidesmechoicesandoptions.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

2. Ifeelunderstoodbymycoach.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree
3. Iamabletobeopenwithmycoachwhileengagedinathletics.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

4. Mycoachconveyedconfidenceinmyabilitytodowellatathletics.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

5. Ifeelthatmycoachacceptsme.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

6. MycoachmadesureIreallyunderstoodthegoalsofmyathleticinvolvementandwhatI
needtodo.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

7. Mycoachencouragedmetoaskquestions.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

8. Ifeelalotoftrustinmycoach.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

9. Mycoachanswersmyquestionsfullyandcarefully.
 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

10. MycoachlistenstohowIwouldliketodothings.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

11. Mycoachhandlespeople'semotionsverywell.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

12. Ifeelthatmycoachcaresaboutmeasaperson.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

13. Idon'tfeelverygoodaboutthewaymycoachtalkstome.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

14. MycoachtriestounderstandhowIseethingsbeforesuggestinganewwaytodothings.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree

15. Ifeelabletosharemyfeelingswithmycoach.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
strongly neutral strongly
disagree agree