Change Seeking Index — Short Form

What it measures

The CSI Short Form adapts Garlington and Shimota's (1964) original 95-item Change Seeking Index for consumer behaviour research. Steenkamp and Baumgartner (1994) extracted 16 items most predictive of exploratory consumer behaviour using item discrimination and content validity criteria. CSI scores predict innovativeness, exploratory information seeking, variety seeking in brand choice, and susceptibility to novelty-based advertising appeals. The true-false format distinguishes the CSI from Likert-format OSL measures and can reduce socially desirable responding. Widely used in cross-cultural studies of consumer innovativeness.

Response format

True-False format (T=1, F=0); items summed; range 0–16; higher scores = higher change-seeking tendency

Scale items

• I would like a job that requires me to be in different places and is never routine. (T=1)
• I prefer to stick to a predictable daily routine. (F=1 for reverse)
• I like to try new foods that I have never eaten before. (T=1)
• I find a well-ordered life with regular hours suits me best. (F=1 for reverse)
• I often like to do something just to see what will happen. (T=1)
• I prefer familiar and well-tested methods to new and untried ones. (F=1 for reverse)
• I enjoy meeting and talking with strangers. (T=1)
• I would rather stay at home than go to a party where I know few people. (F=1 for reverse)
• I like change and variety more than I like order and routine. (T=1)
• I often wish I could have more variety in my life. (T=1)
• I prefer to be in a new situation I don't know well than a familiar one. (T=1)
• I am the kind of person who would like to try almost anything once. (T=1)
• I would prefer a more varied and complex life even if it were somewhat unpredictable. (T=1)
• I need a lot of variety and novelty in my daily life. (T=1)
• I prefer doing the same things rather than trying new and different things. (F=1 for reverse)
• I find it exciting to try new things. (T=1)

Full scale items shown. Always cite the original source when using this scale in research.

Usage notes & scoring

Scoring: True = 1, False = 0; sum all items (range 0–16). Reverse-keyed items (indicating stability/routine preference) score 1 for 'False'. Original CSI (Garlington & Shimota, 1964, Psychological Reports) has 95 items. CSI positively correlates with AST, ETCBS variety-seeking subscales, and EBBT exploratory acquisition.

Recommended companion scales

Citation

Steenkamp, J.B.E.M., & Baumgartner, H. (1994). The role of optimum stimulation level in exploratory consumer behavior. Journal of Consumer Research, 21(2), 434–448.

Keywords