The Importance of Item Wording: The Distinction Between Measuring High Standards Versus Measuring Perfectionism and Why It Matters
Abstract
In the current research, we illustrate the impact that item wording has on the content of personality scales and how differences in item wording influence empirical results. We present evidence indicating that items in certain scales used to measure “adaptive” perfectionism fail to capture the disabling all-or-nothing approach that is synonymous with the individual who is driven to attain perfection. Original and modified versions of two perfectionism measures of high personal standards and modified perfectionistic standards versions of these scales were administered to three samples of participants. A series of analyses established that item wording does indeed matter. In particular, our results differed for a modified version of the Almost Perfect Scale–Revised when the focus was on a conceptualization and assessment of perfectionism that is fundamentally different from conscientious striving. The current findings are discussed in terms of their implications for scale construction and item wording in general and for the measurement of perfectionism in particular. The specific implications of these findings are examined in terms of understanding dysfunctional perfectionism and the current debate about whether certain aspects of perfectionism are adaptive versus maladaptive.
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Measures often conflated the two constructs in items measuring a mixture of high and perfectionistic standards.
“Measures often conflated the two constructs in items measuring a mixture of high and perfectionistic standards (e.g. Blasberg et al ., 2016).”
From The impact of internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for perfectionism: a reinterpretation through the lens of the Model of Excellencism and Perfectionism (2024) · cites this paper as Blasberg et al., 2016
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“…perfectionism is associated with depressive symptoms and other indicators of maladjustment (e.g., Downey & Chang, 2007; Flamenbaum & Holden, 2007; Hewitt & Flett, 1991, 1993) whereas other research has shown no association with maladjustment (e.g., Clara, Cox, & Enns, 2007; Gilbert, Durrant, &…”
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Smith, M. M., Sherry, S. B., Chen, S., Saklofske, D. H., Mushquash, C., Flett, G. L., & Hewitt, P. L. (2018) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/jopy.12333 · Cited by 255 · see citing works
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Smith, M. M., Hewitt, P. L., Sherry, S. B., Flett, G. L., & Ray, C. (2022) · Journal of Research in Personality · doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2021.104180 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
Self-citationRandall, E. T., Gray, L. S., & Fletcher, A. A. (2018) · Journal of Pediatric Psychology · doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsx106 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Gaudreau, P., & Schellenberg, B. J. I. (2024) · Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy · doi:10.1017/s1352465823000516 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
- Authors
- Blasberg, J. S., Hewitt, P. L., Flett, G. L., Sherry, S. B., & Chen, C.
- Affiliations
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- York University (CA)
- Dalhousie University (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Hewitt, Paul L.
- Venue
- Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2016-08-03
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 702-717
- ISSN
- 0734-2829 (ISSN-L)
- 1557-5144
- OpenAlex
- W2418633319
- Cited by
- 65
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 9
- FWCI
- 9.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Psychological Testing and Assessment
- Keywords
- item wording, perfectionism, adaptive perfectionism, dysfunctional perfectionism, Almost Perfect Scale-Revised, scale development, personality assessment, all-or-nothing thinking
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