Protocol - Attention
- Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms - Adult
- Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms - Child
- Motor and Attentional Impulsivity (Immediate and Delayed Memory Task)
- Temperament - Adolescent
- Temperament - Adult
- Temperament - Child
- Temperament - Early Childhood
- Temperament - Infant
Description
The Attention Control Scale (ACS) is a 20-item self-report measure assessing attentional focusing and shifting.
Specific Instructions
None
Protocol
Items are scored on a 4-point scale (1 = almost never; 2 = sometimes; 3 = often; 4 = always). R = reverse-scored item.
1. It’s very hard for me to concentrate on a difficult task when there are noises around. (R)
1[ ]almost never
2[ ]sometimes
3[ ]often
4[ ]always
2. When I need to concentrate and solve a problem, I have trouble focusing my attention. (R)
1[ ]almost never
2[ ]sometimes
3[ ]often
4[ ]always
3. When I am working hard on something, I still get distracted by events around me. (R)
1[ ]almost never
2[ ]sometimes
3[ ]often
4[ ]always
4. My concentration is good even if there is music in the room around me.
1[ ]almost never
2[ ]sometimes
3[ ]often
4[ ]always
5. When concentrating, I can focus my attention so that I become unaware of what’s going on in the room around me.
1[ ]almost never
2[ ]sometimes
3[ ]often
4[ ]always
6. When I am reading or studying, I am easily distracted if there are people talking in the same room. (R)
1[ ]almost never
2[ ]sometimes
3[ ]often
4[ ]always
7. When trying to focus my attention on something, I have difficulty blocking out distracting thoughts. (R)
1[ ]almost never
2[ ]sometimes
3[ ]often
4[ ]always
8. I have a hard time concentrating when I’m excited about something. (R)
1[ ]almost never
2[ ]sometimes
3[ ]often
4[ ]always
9. When concentrating I ignore feelings of hunger or thirst.
1[ ]almost never
2[ ]sometimes
3[ ]often
4[ ]always
10. I can quickly switch from one task to another.
1[ ]almost never
2[ ]sometimes
3[ ]often
4[ ]always
11. It takes me a while to get really involved in a new task. (R)
1[ ]almost never
2[ ]sometimes
3[ ]often
4[ ]always
12. It is difficult for me to coordinate my attention between the listening and writing required when taking notes during lectures. (R)
1[ ]almost never
2[ ]sometimes
3[ ]often
4[ ]always
13. I can become interested in a new topic very quickly when I need to.
1[ ]almost never
2[ ]sometimes
3[ ]often
4[ ]always
14. It is easy for me to read or write while I’m also talking on the phone.
1[ ]almost never
2[ ]sometimes
3[ ]often
4[ ]always
15. I have trouble carrying on two conversations at once. (R)
1[ ]almost never
2[ ]sometimes
3[ ]often
4[ ]always
16. I have a hard time coming up with new ideas quickly. (R)
1[ ]almost never
2[ ]sometimes
3[ ]often
4[ ]always
17. After being interrupted or distracted, I can easily shift my attention back to what I was doing before.
1[ ]almost never
2[ ]sometimes
3[ ]often
4[ ]always
18. When a distracting thought comes to mind, it is easy for me to shift my attention away from it.
1[ ]almost never
2[ ]sometimes
3[ ]often
4[ ]always
19. It is easy for me to alternate between two different tasks.
1[ ]almost never
2[ ]sometimes
3[ ]often
4[ ]always
20. It is hard for me to break from one way of thinking about something and look at it from another point of view. (R)
1[ ]almost never
2[ ]sometimes
3[ ]often
4[ ]always
Scoring: ACS Full Scale: average of all 20 items.
ACS Focusing Subscale: average of items 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 12
ACS Shifting Subscale: average of items 10, 13, 17, 18, 19
Higher scores on the ACS Full Scale indicate great attentional control, higher scores on the ACS Focusing Subscale indicate greater attentional focus, and higher scores on the ACS Shifting Subscale indicate greater capacity for attentional shifting.
Availability
Personnel and Training Required
None
Equipment Needs
None
Requirements
Requirement Category | Required |
---|---|
Major equipment | No |
Specialized training | No |
Specialized requirements for biospecimen collection | No |
Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an unaffected individual | No |
Mode of Administration
Self-administered questionnaire
Lifestage
Adult
Participants
Adult = 18 and over
Selection Rationale
The Attention Control Scale (ACS) is very brief and easy to administer, and it can assess two aspects of attention: shifting and focus. It has solid psychometric properties and supportive validity information. Some attentional processes may be enhanced by nicotine and degraded during tobacco withdrawal. Behavioral, neurophysiological, and self-report assessments capture different components of attentional process.
Language
English
Standards
Standard | Name | ID | Source |
---|---|---|---|
caDSR Common Data Elements (CDE) | Psychiatry Attention Control Scale Assessment Scale | 4719179 | CDE Browser |
Human Phenotype Ontology | Attention Deficit-hyperactivity Disorder | OMIM:143465 | HPO |
caDSR Form | PhenX PX711001 - Attention | 6237648 | caDSR Form |
Derived Variables
None
Process and Review
Not applicable.
Protocol Name from Source
The Attention Control Scale (ACS)
Source
Judah, M. R., Grant, D. M., Mills, A. C., & Lechner, W. V. (2014). Factor structure and validation of the attentional control scale. Cognitive Emotion, 28(3), 433-451.
General References
Derryberry, D., & Reed, M. A. (2002). Anxiety-related attentional biases and their regulation by attentional control. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 111(2), 225-236. doi:10.1037/0021-843X.111.2.225
Protocol ID
711001
Variables
Export VariablesVariable Name | Variable ID | Variable Description | dbGaP Mapping | |
---|---|---|---|---|
PX711001_Attention_Another_POV | ||||
PX711001200000 | It is hard for me to break from one way of more | N/A | ||
PX711001_Attention_Difficulty_Blocking_Thought | ||||
PX711001070000 | When trying to focus my attention on more | N/A | ||
PX711001_Attention_Difficult_Coordinate_During_Lecture | ||||
PX711001120000 | It is difficult for me to coordinate my more | N/A | ||
PX711001_Attention_Distraction_Shift_Away | ||||
PX711001180000 | When a distracting thought comes to mind, it more | Variable Mapping | ||
PX711001_Attention_Distriction_Shift_Back | ||||
PX711001170000 | After being interrupted or distracted, I can more | N/A | ||
PX711001_Attention_Easy_Alternate_Tasks | ||||
PX711001190000 | It is easy for me to alternate between two more | N/A | ||
PX711001_Attention_Easy_Read_OnPhone | ||||
PX711001140000 | It is easy for me to read or write while I'm more | N/A | ||
PX711001_Attention_Good_Music_Around | ||||
PX711001040000 | My concentration is good even if there is more | N/A | ||
PX711001_Attention_Good_Unaware_Surrounding | ||||
PX711001050000 | When concentrating, I can focus my attention more | N/A | ||
PX711001_Attention_Hard_When_Excited | ||||
PX711001080000 | I have a hard time concentrating when I'm more | N/A | ||
PX711001_Attention_Ignore_Hunger | ||||
PX711001090000 | When concentrating I ignore feelings of more | N/A | ||
PX711001_Attention_New_Ideas | ||||
PX711001160000 | I have a hard time coming up with new ideas more | N/A | ||
PX711001_Attention_New_Topics | ||||
PX711001130000 | I can become interested in a new topic very more | N/A | ||
PX711001_Attention_Quicky_Switch_Task | ||||
PX711001100000 | I can quickly switch from one task to another. | N/A | ||
PX711001_Attention_Reading_Distracted_Talking | ||||
PX711001060000 | When I am reading or studying, I am easily more | N/A | ||
PX711001_Attention_Scoring_Focusing | ||||
PX711001220000 | average of items 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 12 | N/A | ||
PX711001_Attention_Scoring_Full | ||||
PX711001210000 | average of all 20 items. | N/A | ||
PX711001_Attention_Scoring_Shifting | ||||
PX711001230000 | average of items 10, 13, 17, 18, 19 | N/A | ||
PX711001_Attention_Taskes_Awhile_NewTask | ||||
PX711001110000 | It takes me a while to get really involved more | N/A | ||
PX711001_Attention_Trouble_Concentrate_Noise | ||||
PX711001010000 | It's very hard for me to concentrate on a more | N/A | ||
PX711001_Attention_Trouble_Solve_Problem | ||||
PX711001020000 | When I need to concentrate and solve a more | N/A | ||
PX711001_Attention_Two_Conversations | ||||
PX711001150000 | I have trouble carrying on two conversations more | N/A | ||
PX711001_Attention_Working_Distracted_Events | ||||
PX711001030000 | When I am working hard on something, I still more | N/A |
Measure Name
Attention
Release Date
February 20, 2015
Definition
Attention is the process of selecting for active processing specific aspects of the environment or ideas stored in memory.
Purpose
The Attentional Control Scale (ACS) is a self-report questionnaire that has been developed to measure individual differences in attentional control.
Keywords
attention, attention, focusing, shifting, mood change, subjective effects
Measure Protocols
Protocol ID | Protocol Name |
---|---|
711001 | Attention |
Publications
There are no publications listed for this protocol.