A Scale to Measure Independent and Interdependent Problem-Solving

Background
My colleagues and I have recently developed a general purpose measure of dispositional preferences for independent and interdependent problem-solving called the Independent-Interdependent Problem-Solving Scale (IIPSS; Rubin, Watt, & Ramelli, in press). The scale distinguishes between independent problem-solvers, who prefer to work on their own when solving problems, and interdependent problem-solvers, who prefer to consult with other people.

Version 2 of the IIPSS is displayed below. Compared to Version 1, this second version is slightly shorter and has more concise instructions. Participants respond to each item using a 7-point Likert-type response scale anchored Strongly Agree and Strongly Disagree.

The IIPSS
Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each of the following items.
1. When faced with a difficult personal problem, it is better to decide yourself rather than to follow the advice of others.

2. I value other people’s help and advice when making important decisions.

3. In general, I do not like to ask other people to help me to solve problems.

4. I prefer to make decisions on my own, rather than with other people.

5. I like to get advice from my friends and family when deciding how to solve my personal problems.

6. I prefer to consult with others before making important decisions.

7. I usually find other people’s advice to be the most helpful source of information for solving my problems.

8. I would rather struggle through a personal problem by myself than discuss it with a friend.

9. I do not like to depend on other people to help me to solve my problems.

10. I usually prefer to ask other people for help rather than to try to solve problems on my own.

Scoring
Researchers should reverse code participants’ responses to either the independent problem-solving items (items 1, 3, 4, 8, & 9) or the interdependent problem-solving items (items 2, 5, 6, 7, 10)  and then compute the average score of all 10 items. (The decision about which set of items to reverse code depends on whether researchers would like to represent independent problem-solving with high scores and interdependent problem-solving with low scores or vice versa.)

Reliability and Validity
Rubin et al. (in press) reported evidence of the reliability and validity of Version 1 of the IIPSS. The scale has good reliability, with a single factor structure (eigenvalue = 3.96) and good internal consistency (αs = .77 & .80). The scale also has good convergent validity. It has small-to-medium sized correlations with Cross et al.’s (2000) Relational-Interdependent Self-Construal scale and Goldberg et al.’s (2006) Extraversion scale. Finally, the scale has good predictive validity. It predicted participants’ self-reported likelihood that they would (a) search the internet to find a solution to a problem at university (i.e., independent problem-solving) and (b) ask another student to help them with a university problem (i.e., interdependent problem-solving).

Reference

The scale was first reported in a paper that discussed the social integration of migrants. Please refer to the following paper for more information:

 

Rubin, M., Watt, S., & Ramelli, M. (2012). Immigrants’ social integration as a function of approach–avoidance orientation and problem-solving style International Journal of Intercultural Relations DOI: 10.1016/j.ijintrel.2011.12.009

Holding Hands Triggers Help-Seeking Tendencies

Have you ever driven around lost for hours before eventually stopping to ask somebody for directions? If you have, then you're probably quite an independent, self-reliant sort of person. But your personality may not be the only thing that determines whether you ask people for help. I recently reported research that suggests that our intentions to seek help from others may be influenced by some fairly subtle cues in our environment.

I asked 122 university students to look at photographs of two people walking down a corridor. Unbeknownst to the students, half of them viewed photos in which the two people were holding hands, and the other half viewed photos in which the people were not holding hands. (See the photos below.) The students then completed a questionnaire in which they indicated their intention to ask other people to help them with an upcoming university coursework assignment.
 

The results showed that the students in the hand-holding condition had significantly stronger intentions to seek help than the students in the no hand-holding condition. Hence, subtle cues of social affiliation (i.e., people holding hands) can increase people’s intentions to seek help.

This research builds on previous work that shows that affiliation cues can promote help-giving in children (Over & Carpenter, 2009), and it has implications for facilitating help-seeking in the areas of education, health, and, of course, lost drivers!

For further information, please see the following journal article:

Rubin, M. (2011). Social affiliation cues prime help-seeking intentions. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science/Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement, 43 (2), 138-141 DOI: 10.1037/a0022246