IDENTITY STYLE INVENTORY (ISI3)
(Revised Version)

Michael D. Berzonsky
Department of Psychology
State University of New York at Cortland
Cortland, New York 13045

1992

Scoring Instructions:

Information-Orientation = (2  +  5  +  6  +  16  +  18  +  25  +  26  +  30  +  33  +  35  +  37)
Normative-Orientation = (4  +  10  +  19  +  21  +  23  +  28  +  32  +  34  +  40)
Diffuse-Orientation = (3  +  8  +  13  +  17  +  24  +  27  +  29  +  31  +  36  +  38)
Commitment = (1  +  7  +  9*  +  11*  +  12  +  14*  +  15  +  20*  +  22  +  39)

*For scoring purposes these items are reversed (9, 11, 14 & 20).  I'd appreciate information about any investigations in which the measure is used.

PERSONAL SIMILARITIES

INSTRUCTIONS

You will find a number of statements about beliefs, attitudes, and/or ways of dealing with issues.  Read each carefully, then use it to describe yourself.  On the answer sheet, bubble in the number which indicates the extent to which you think the statement represents you.  There are no right or wrong answers.  For instance, if the statement is very much like you, mark a 5, if it is not like you at all, mark a 1.  Use the 1 to 5 point scale to indicate the degree to which you think each statement is uncharacteristic (1) or characteristic (5) of yourself.

1.	Regarding religious beliefs, I know basically what I believe and don't believe.  (COMM)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME)	1	2	3	4	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

2.	I've spent a great deal of time thinking seriously about what I should do with my life.  (INFO)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME)	1        	2      	3	4	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

3.	I'm not really sure what I'm doing in school; I guess things will work themselves out.  (DIFF)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1        	2      	3      	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

4.	I've more-or-less always operated according to the values with which I was brought up.  (NORM)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1        	2      	3      	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

5.	I've spent a good deal of time reading and talking to others about religious ideas.  (INFO)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1        	2      	3      	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

6.	When I discuss an issue with someone, I try to assume their point of view and see the problem from their perspective.  (INFO)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1       	2      	3	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

7.	I know what I want to do with my future.  (COMM)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1       	2      	3      	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

2

8.	It doesn't pay to worry about values in advance; I decide things as they happen.  (DIFF)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1      	2	3	4	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

9.	I'm not really sure what I believe about religion.  (COMM/REV)

	(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1	2      	3      	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

10.	I've always had purpose in my life; I was brought up to know what to strive for.  (NORM)
(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME)	1      	2      	3      	4     	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)
11.	I'm not sure which values I really hold.  (COMM/REV)
(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME)	1      	2      	3      	4     	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)
12.	I have some consistent political views; I have a definite stand on where the government and
	country should be headed.  (COMM)
(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1	2	3	4	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)
13.	Many times by not concerning myself with personal problems, they work themselves out.  (DIFF)
	(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1      	2      	3      	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)
14.	I'm not sure what I want to do in the future.  (COMM/REV)
(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1      	2      	3      	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)
15.	I'm really into my major; it's the academic area that is right for me.  (COMM)
(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1       	2      	3      	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)
16.	I've spent a lot of time reading and trying to make some sense out of political issues.  (INFO)
(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1       	2      	3      	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)
17.	I'm not really thinking about my future now; it's still a long way off.  (DIFF)
(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1       	2      	3      	4     	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)
18.	I've spent a lot of time and talked to a lot of people trying to develop a set of values that make sense to me. (INFO)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1       	2     	3	4	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

3

19.	Regarding religion, I've always known what I believe and don't believe; I never really had any serious doubts. (NORM)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME)	1	2	3	4	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

20.	I'm not sure what I should major in (or change to).  (COMM/REV)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME)	1	2	3	4	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

21.	I've known since high school that I was going to college and what I was going to major in.  (NORM)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME)	1	2	3	4	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

22.	I have a definite set of values that I use in order to make personal decisions.  (COMM)

	(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1       	2      	3      	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

23.	I think it's better to have a firm set of beliefs than to be openminded.  (NORM)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1       	2       	3     	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

24.	When I have to make a decision, I try to wait as long as possible in order to see what will happen.  (DIFF)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1       	2       	3     	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

25.	When I have a personal problem, I try to analyze the situation in order to understand it.  (INFO)

	(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1       	2     	3      	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

26.	I find it's best to seek out advice from professionals (e.g., clergy, doctors, lawyers) when I have problems. (INFO)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1       	2      	3      	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

27.	It's best for me not to take life too seriously; I just try to enjoy it.  (DIFF)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1        	2       	3     	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

28.	       I think it's better to have fixed values, than to consider alternative value systems.  (NORM)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1        	2       	3     	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

29.	I try not to think about or deal with problems as long as I can.  (DIFF)

	(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1        	2       	3     	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)
					
4

30.	I find that personal problems often turn out to be interesting challenges.  (INFO)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1       	2      	3      	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

31.	I try to avoid personal situations that will require me to think a lot and deal with them on my own.  (DIFF)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1      	2      	3      	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

32.	Once I know the correct way to handle a problem, I prefer to stick with it.  (NORM)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1      	2      	3      	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

33.	When I have to make a decision, I like to spend a lot of time thinking about my options.  (INFO)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1	2	3	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

34.	I prefer to deal with situations where I can rely on social norms and standards.  (NORM)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME) 	1      	2      	3      	4      	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

35.	       I like to have the responsibility for handling problems in my life that require me to think on my             
            own.  (INFO)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME)	1	2	3	4	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

36.	Sometimes I refuse to believe a problem will happen, and things manage to work themselves out.  (DIFF)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME)	1	2	3	4	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

37.	When making important decisions I like to have as much information as possible.  (INFO)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME)	1	2	3	4	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

38.	       When I know a situation is going to cause me stress, I try to avoid it.  (DIFF)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME)	1	2	3	4	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

39.	To live a complete life, I think people need to get emotionally involved and commit themselves to specific values and ideals.  (COMM)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME)	1	2	3	4	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

40.	I find it's best for me to rely on the advice of close friends or relatives when I have a problem.  (NORM)

(NOT AT ALL LIKE ME)	1	2	3	4	5     (VERY MUCH LIKE ME)

RELIABILITY DATA FOR THE IDENTITY STYLE INVENTORY
(Third Revision: ISI3)

Michael D. Berzonsky
Department of Psychology
State University of New York at Cortland
Cortland, New York 13045

(January, 1997)

TEST-RETEST TWO-WEEK INTERVAL (N=94)

INFORMATIONAL	=                .87
NORMATIVE		=                .87
DIFFUSE/AVOIDANT	=                .83
COMMITMENT		=                .89

ALPHA COEFFICIENTS  (N=618)

INFORMATIONAL		=	      .70		M = 35.16		      SD = 5.50
NORMATIVE			=	      .64		M = 29.43		      SD = 4.83
DIFFUSE/AVOIDANT 		=	      .76		M = 24.90		      SD = 6.15
COMMITMENT			=	      .71		M = 36.94		      SD = 6.02

NOTE:  In this revision only the Informational and Normative Scales were modified.  Correlations between the ISI2 and ISI3 scales were: Informational2 X Informational3 =.98; Normative2 X Normative3 =.94.