Adult Play and Playfulness Assessment Battery
Self-administered questionnaires for assessing the playful disposition, playful states, and play environment
The adult play and playfulness assessment battery consists of three self-report scales developed by Dr. Shen and colleagues, including:
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Adult Playfulness Trait ScaleThe APTS is designed to measure individual differences in the disposition to engage in playful behavior, defined as the tendency to invoke a free, uninhibited mindset and pursue or respond to fun, enjoyment, and/or amusement, often in a spontaneous manner. The scale includes 19 items designed to assess three essential qualities that define the playful disposition in adults: fun-seeking motivation, uninhibitedness, and spontaneity.
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At A GLANCE
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Scale Composition and Conceptual Model
The APTS contains three sub-scales, each measuring an essential quality of the playful disposition using items derived from literature and empirical data (Shen et al. 2014a, 2014b):
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Scoring Instruction
Users are encouraged to, whenever possible, compute composite total scores or sub-scale scores based on factor scores derived from higher order factor analyses. Alternatively, users may score the APTS using the averaging method described below:
Reliability and Validity
The APTS has been validated through systematic and extensive psychometric studies. Summarized below are the scale's reliability and validity as supported by evidence from peer-reviewed studies:
Theoretical Framework
The theoretical framework of the APTS is based on the Latent-network Trait Conception (LNeT) first proposed by Shen and colleagues (Shen, Chick, & Zinn, 2014a). The LNeT integrates the latent dispositional view of trait in classic personality theories and the network view of social cognitive theories (e.g., Shoda, 2014). It defines a trait as a set of interconnected dispositional qualities that, when activated in a trait-relevant context, jointly drive a specific type of behavior. Consistent with the LNeT, playfulness is defined as a compound trait that consists of three inter-connected attributes that, when activated, drive the individual to pursue or react to internal and/or external fun stimuli with a goal to entertain or amuse oneself and possibly others if involved as in social play. Social interactions provide a common context for playful engagement, but are neither necessary nor sufficient for play to occur.
The APTS conceptualization and measurement is part of the interactionist framework for playfulness research, which posits that playfulness interacts with psychologically meaningful situational factors to give rise to playful behavior (Shen, 2020). For researchers interested in studying the playful trait-environment interactions, two concurrent instruments — the Playful States Scale (PSS) and the Psychological Situations for Play Scale (PSPS)—are available for measuring the behavioral and situational component of the framework (see Shen, 2020 or contact Dr. Shen for a copy). Combined, these instruments can be used to facilitate causal modeling of the playful trait-environment interactions and corresponding behavioral and health outcomes.
Users are encouraged to, whenever possible, compute composite total scores or sub-scale scores based on factor scores derived from higher order factor analyses. Alternatively, users may score the APTS using the averaging method described below:
- A sub-scale composite score can be calculated for each individual on each sub-scale by averaging the corresponding subset of items. Five sub-scale composite scores can be calculated for the five first-order factors, namely Fun Belief, Initiative, Reactivity, Uninhibitedness, and Spontaneity. These sub-scale scores can be used independently or jointly to predict relevant downstream behavioral or affective variables.
- A Fun-seeking Motivation composite score can be calculated for each individual by averaging the composite scores of Fun Belief, Initiative, and Reactivity sub-scales to provide a motivation-level measure. The Motivation composite scores can be used independently (i.e., not accompanied by Uninhibitedness and Spontaneity scores) to predict relevant behavioral and affective variables.
- A Playfulness composite score can be calculated for each individual by averaging across the Fun-seeking Motivation, Uninhibitedness, Spontaneity sub-scales.
Reliability and Validity
The APTS has been validated through systematic and extensive psychometric studies. Summarized below are the scale's reliability and validity as supported by evidence from peer-reviewed studies:
- Face validity and content validity were validated through expert reviews (Shen et al., 2014a).
- Structural validity was confirmed by higher-order CFA that reported good model fit in adult sample (Shen et al., 2014a) and young adult sample (Shen et al., 2017).
- Predictive validity, concurrent validity, and convergent validity were assessed by correlations with average playful behavior tendency (r = 0.55), self-as-entertainment subscales (r = 0.18 − 0.30), and independent global measures of playfulness (r = 0.59) as well as informant ratings (Cohen’s d = 1.3), respectively (Shen et al., 2014b).
- Adequate internal consistencies were reported for the entire scale (Cronbach’s α = 0.87) and all sub-scales (Cronbach’s α = 0.68 − 0.87, Shen et al., 2014a), and supported by findings from independent studies in diverse fields from education to health studies (e.g., Shen, Liu, & Song, 2021; Erez et al., 2016; Jovanović, 2020; Yurt et al., 2016).
- Cross-instrument comparisons suggested that the APTS demonstrated higher criterion validity relative to other existing playfulness scales (Barnett, 2018).
Theoretical Framework
The theoretical framework of the APTS is based on the Latent-network Trait Conception (LNeT) first proposed by Shen and colleagues (Shen, Chick, & Zinn, 2014a). The LNeT integrates the latent dispositional view of trait in classic personality theories and the network view of social cognitive theories (e.g., Shoda, 2014). It defines a trait as a set of interconnected dispositional qualities that, when activated in a trait-relevant context, jointly drive a specific type of behavior. Consistent with the LNeT, playfulness is defined as a compound trait that consists of three inter-connected attributes that, when activated, drive the individual to pursue or react to internal and/or external fun stimuli with a goal to entertain or amuse oneself and possibly others if involved as in social play. Social interactions provide a common context for playful engagement, but are neither necessary nor sufficient for play to occur.
The APTS conceptualization and measurement is part of the interactionist framework for playfulness research, which posits that playfulness interacts with psychologically meaningful situational factors to give rise to playful behavior (Shen, 2020). For researchers interested in studying the playful trait-environment interactions, two concurrent instruments — the Playful States Scale (PSS) and the Psychological Situations for Play Scale (PSPS)—are available for measuring the behavioral and situational component of the framework (see Shen, 2020 or contact Dr. Shen for a copy). Combined, these instruments can be used to facilitate causal modeling of the playful trait-environment interactions and corresponding behavioral and health outcomes.
APTS in Other Languages
The APTS was originally developed in English and tested in North America. It has been increasingly used in international applications and has been/is being translated into a number of languages, including Korean, Chinese, Hebrew, Arabic, Persian, Indonesian, and Turkish. If you are looking for a copy of the APTS in another language, please search journals in that language to see if one already exists (e.g., the Chinese version by Shen, Liu, & Song, 2021 and the Turkish version by Yurt, Keleş, & Koğar, 2016) . If you are interested in translating the APTS into a different language, you may find this annotated bibliography useful. It offers a list of resources and guidelines for translating surveys in cross-cultural research. The document was prepared by the Measurement and Methods Core of the Center for Aging in Diverse Communities at the University of California San Francisco. Readers are also referred to Shen et al. (2021) for an example of taking a culturally-sensitive approach to scale translation. Researchers interested in collaboration (e.g., scale applications, scale translation or cultural adaptation) are welcome to contact Dr. Shen ([email protected]). |
To Cite the APTS:
Shen, X., Chick, G., & Zinn, H. (2014a). Playfulness in adulthood as a personality trait: A reconceptualization and a new measurement. Journal of Leisure Research, 46(1), 58-83. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2014.11950313
Shen, X., Chick, G., & Zinn, H. (2014b). Validating the Adult Playfulness Trait Scale (APTS): An examination of personality, behavior, attitude, and perception in the nomological network of playfulness. American Journal of Play, 6(3), 345-369. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1032064
Shen, X., Chick, G., & Zinn, H. (2014a). Playfulness in adulthood as a personality trait: A reconceptualization and a new measurement. Journal of Leisure Research, 46(1), 58-83. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2014.11950313
Shen, X., Chick, G., & Zinn, H. (2014b). Validating the Adult Playfulness Trait Scale (APTS): An examination of personality, behavior, attitude, and perception in the nomological network of playfulness. American Journal of Play, 6(3), 345-369. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1032064
References:
Barnett, L. A. (2007). The nature of play-fulness in young adults. Personality and Individual Differences, 43 (4), 949–958. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2007.02.018
Barnett, L. (2018). Conceptual models of the playfulness construct: Additive, balanced, or synergistic? Archives of Psychology, 2(7), 1-35. DOI: 10.31296/aop.v2i7.79
Erez, A. B.-H., Katz, N., & Waldman-Levi, A. (2016). Protective personality variables and their effect on well-being and participation in the elderly: A pilot study. Healthy Aging Research, 9.
Glynn, M. A., & Webster, J. (1992). The adult playfulness scale: An initial assessment. Psychological Reports, 71 (1), 83–103. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1992.71.1.83
Jovanović, D. (2021). Educational aspects of adult participation in playful activities. Facta Universitatis, Series: Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education, 101. https://doi.org/10.22190/FUTLTE2002101J
Proyer, R. T. (2017). A new structural model for the study of adult playfulness: Assessment and exploration of an understudied individual differences variable. Personality and Individual Differences, 108, 113–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2016.12.011
Shen, X., Chick, G., & Zinn, H. (2014a). Playfulness in adulthood as a personality trait: A reconceptualization and a new measurement. Journal of Leisure Research, 46(1), 58-83. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2014.11950313
Shen, X., Chick, G., & Zinn, H. (2014b). Validating the Adult Playfulness Trait Scale (APTS): An examination of personality, behavior, attitude, and perception in the nomological network of playfulness. American Journal of Play, 6(3), 345-369. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1032064
Shen, X., Chick, G., & Pitas, N. (2017). From playful parents to adaptable children: A structural equation model of the relationships between playfulness and adaptability among young adults and their parents. International Journal of Play. 6(3), 244-254. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21594937.2017.1382983
Shen, X. (2020). Constructing an interactionist framework for playfulness research: Adding psychological situations and playful states. Journal of Leisure Research. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2020.1748551
Shen, X., Liu, H., & Song, R. (2021). Toward a culture-sensitive approach to playfulness research: Development of Adult Playfulness Trait Scale-Chinese version and an alternative measurement model. Journal of Leisure Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2020.1850193
Yurt, Ö., Keleş, S., & Koğar, H. (2016). Yetişkin eğlence eğilimi özeliği ölçeği Türkçe formunun psikometrik özelliklerinin incelenmesi (Examination of psychometric properties of the Turkish form of adult playfulness trait scale-APTS). Journal of Human Sciences, 13(1). 650-662. Doi:10.14687/ijhs.v13i1.3539
Barnett, L. A. (2007). The nature of play-fulness in young adults. Personality and Individual Differences, 43 (4), 949–958. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2007.02.018
Barnett, L. (2018). Conceptual models of the playfulness construct: Additive, balanced, or synergistic? Archives of Psychology, 2(7), 1-35. DOI: 10.31296/aop.v2i7.79
Erez, A. B.-H., Katz, N., & Waldman-Levi, A. (2016). Protective personality variables and their effect on well-being and participation in the elderly: A pilot study. Healthy Aging Research, 9.
Glynn, M. A., & Webster, J. (1992). The adult playfulness scale: An initial assessment. Psychological Reports, 71 (1), 83–103. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1992.71.1.83
Jovanović, D. (2021). Educational aspects of adult participation in playful activities. Facta Universitatis, Series: Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education, 101. https://doi.org/10.22190/FUTLTE2002101J
Proyer, R. T. (2017). A new structural model for the study of adult playfulness: Assessment and exploration of an understudied individual differences variable. Personality and Individual Differences, 108, 113–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2016.12.011
Shen, X., Chick, G., & Zinn, H. (2014a). Playfulness in adulthood as a personality trait: A reconceptualization and a new measurement. Journal of Leisure Research, 46(1), 58-83. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2014.11950313
Shen, X., Chick, G., & Zinn, H. (2014b). Validating the Adult Playfulness Trait Scale (APTS): An examination of personality, behavior, attitude, and perception in the nomological network of playfulness. American Journal of Play, 6(3), 345-369. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1032064
Shen, X., Chick, G., & Pitas, N. (2017). From playful parents to adaptable children: A structural equation model of the relationships between playfulness and adaptability among young adults and their parents. International Journal of Play. 6(3), 244-254. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21594937.2017.1382983
Shen, X. (2020). Constructing an interactionist framework for playfulness research: Adding psychological situations and playful states. Journal of Leisure Research. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2020.1748551
Shen, X., Liu, H., & Song, R. (2021). Toward a culture-sensitive approach to playfulness research: Development of Adult Playfulness Trait Scale-Chinese version and an alternative measurement model. Journal of Leisure Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2020.1850193
Yurt, Ö., Keleş, S., & Koğar, H. (2016). Yetişkin eğlence eğilimi özeliği ölçeği Türkçe formunun psikometrik özelliklerinin incelenmesi (Examination of psychometric properties of the Turkish form of adult playfulness trait scale-APTS). Journal of Human Sciences, 13(1). 650-662. Doi:10.14687/ijhs.v13i1.3539