Experimental Task Distraction

What it measures

Seven items assess the degree to which a participant felt distracted, unable to concentrate, and preoccupied during an experimental task. Used as a manipulation check with undergraduate participants in a study on auditory confirmation in retail technology interfaces. The scale source was not identified, though the items resemble those found in involvement and attention measures.

Response format

10-point Likert (1=strongly disagree, 10=strongly agree)

Scale items

• I was distracted during the _____ task.
• I was unable to concentrate on the _____ task.
• I paid attention to things around me that were not related to __________.
• It was hard to focus while _____.
• The _____ task was stressful.
• I was able to devote all of my focus to the _____ task. (r)
• I was preoccupied during the _____ task.

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

Usage notes & scoring

The scale was used as a manipulation check and the successful manipulation provides preliminary evidence of predictive validity. Item 6 is reverse-scored. All blanks were filled with the word 'shopping' in the original study; the longer blank in item 3 was completed with the phrase 'buying a floor lamp'. Blanks should be adapted to the task context when used in other studies. Refer to the original article's web appendix B for the exact wording used.

Citation

Reynolds-McIlnay, R., & Morrin, M. (2019). Increasing shopper trust in retailer technological interfaces via auditory confirmation. Journal of Retailing, 95(4), 128–142.

Keywords