Accommodation Instrument

Contents –

The instrument to measure accommodation is on p. 2.

A parallel instrument to measure perceived partner accommodation is on p. 3
The key for scoring the instrument is on p. 4

Scoring Possibilities –

In the scoring key, you’ll notice that the 16-item instrument is designed in such a manner that
you can develop a measure of accommodation in either of two ways (you should decide
which is more interesting based on your research goals):

Total Accommodation: Just (a) reverse-score responses for the four exit items and the
four neglect items (see p. 4), and then (b) average the participant’s responses across the 16
items

Or…

Exit/Voice/Loyalty/Neglect: Just average the participant’s responses for each set of four
items

Source –

This instrument is a version of that employed in:

Rusbult, C. E., Verette, J., Whitney, G. A., Slovik, L. F., & Lipkus, I. (1991).
Accommodation processes in close relationships: Theory and preliminary empirical
evidence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60, 53-78.

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Note. This document is formatted for European-sized paper (A4). You will need to re-
format the entire document for printing the instrument or reproducing the instrument for use
on US-sized paper (8.5” x 11”).
My Responses To Relationship Problems

Please read each of the following statements concerning the manner in which you respond to
problems in your relationship. Use the following scale to record a response for each item.

Response Scale:

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Never Seldom Sometimes Frequently Constantly
Do This Do This Do This Do This Do This

Response

_____ 1) When my partner says something really mean, I threaten to leave him/her.

_____ 2) When my partner is rude to me, I try to resolve the situation and improve
conditions.

_____ 3) When my partner behaves in an unpleasant manner, I forgive my partner and

forget about it.

_____ 4) When my partner does something thoughtless, I avoid dealing with the
situation.

_____ 5) When my partner is rude to me, I feel so angry I want to walk right out the
door.

_____ 6) When my partner behaves in an unpleasant manner, I calmly discuss things

with him/her.

_____ 7) When my partner does something thoughtless, I patiently wait for things to
improve.

_____ 8) When my partner says something really mean, I sulk and don’t confront the
issue.

_____ 9) When my partner behaves in an unpleasant manner, I do something equally

unpleasant in return.

_____ 10) When my partner does something thoughtless, I try to patch things up and
solve the problem.

_____ 11) When my partner says something really mean, I hang in there and wait for
his/her mood to change – these times pass.

_____ 12) When my partner is rude to me, I ignore the whole thing.

_____ 13) When my partner does something thoughtless, I do things to drive my partner
away.

_____ 14) When my partner behaves in an unpleasant manner, I spend less time with
him/her.

_____ 15) When my partner says something really mean, I talk to my partner about
what’s going on, trying to work out a solution.

_____ 16) When my partner is rude to me, I give him/her the benefit of the doubt and
forget about it.
My Partner’s Responses To Relationship Problems

Please read each of the following statements concerning the manner in which your partner
responds to problems in your relationship. Use the following scale to record a response for
each item.

Response Scale:

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Partner Partner Partner Partner Partner
Never Seldom Sometimes Frequently Constantly
Does This Does This Does This Does This Does This

Response

_____ 1) When I say something really mean, my partner threatens to leave me.

_____ 2) When I am rude to my partner, he/she tries to resolve the situation and
improve conditions.

_____ 3) When I behave in an unpleasant manner, my partner forgives me and forgets

about it.

_____ 4) When I do something thoughtless, my partner avoids dealing with the

situation.

_____ 5) When I am rude to my partner, my partner feels so angry he/she wants to walk
right out the door.

_____ 6) When I behave in an unpleasant manner, my partner calmly discusses things

with me.

_____ 7) When I do something thoughtless, my partner patiently waits for things to

improve.

_____ 8) When I say something really mean, my partner sulks and doesn’t confront the
issue.

_____ 9) When I behave in an unpleasant manner, my partner does something equally

unpleasant in return.

_____ 10) When I do something thoughtless, my partner tries to patch things up and
solve the problem.

_____ 11) When I say something really mean, my partner hangs in there and waits for
my mood to change – these times pass.

_____ 12) When I am rude to my partner, he/she ignores the whole thing.

_____ 13) When I do something thoughtless, my partner does things to drive me away.

_____ 14) When I behave in an unpleasant manner, my partner spends less time with me.

_____ 15) When I say something really mean, my partner talks to me about what’s going
on, trying to work out a solution.

_____ 16) When I am rude to my partner, my partner gives me the benefit of the doubt
and forgets about it.
Scoring Instructions

As noted earlier, the 16-item instrument is designed in such a manner that you can develop a
measure of accommodation in either of two ways (you should decide which is more
interesting based on your research goals):

Total Accommodation: Just (a) reverse-score responses for the four exit items and the
four neglect items (see p. 4), and then (b) average the participant’s responses across the 16
items

Or…

Exit/Voice/Loyalty/Neglect: Just average the participant’s responses for each set of four
items

Response

Exit –

_____ 1) When my partner says something really mean, I threaten to leave him/her.
_____ 5) When my partner is rude to me, I feel so angry I want to walk right out the
door.
_____ 9) When my partner behaves in an unpleasant manner, I do something equally
unpleasant in return.
_____ 13) When my partner does something thoughtless, I do things to drive my partner
away.

Voice –

_____ 2) When my partner is rude to me, I try to resolve the situation and improve
conditions.
_____ 6) When my partner behaves in an unpleasant manner, I calmly discuss things
with him/her.
_____ 10) When my partner does something thoughtless, I try to patch things up and
solve the problem.
_____ 15) When my partner says something really mean, I talk to my partner about
what’s going on, trying to work out a solution.

Loyalty –

_____ 3) When my partner behaves in an unpleasant manner, I forgive my partner and

forget about it.
_____ 7) When my partner does something thoughtless, I patiently wait for things to
improve.
_____ 11) When my partner says something really mean, I hang in there and wait for
his/her mood to change – these times pass.
_____ 16) When my partner is rude to me, I give him/her the benefit of the doubt and
forget about it.

Neglect –

_____ 4) When my partner does something thoughtless, I avoid dealing with the
situation.
_____ 8) When my partner says something really mean, I sulk and don’t confront the
issue.
_____ 12) When my partner is rude to me, I ignore the whole thing.
_____ 14) When my partner behaves in an unpleasant manner, I spend less time with
him/her.