TPB Questionnaire Construction

TPB Questionnaire Construction
The following description of questionnaire construction is based on the appendix in Fishbein, M., &
Ajzen, I. (2010). Predicting and changing behavior: The reasoned action approach. New York: Psychology
Press.
Formative Research
 Defining the Behavior
Before any work can begin, the behavior of interest must be clearly defined in terms of its target, action,
context, and time elements.
Example: Physical Activity
We could define exercise behavior as follows (see Terry & O’Leary, 1995): “Exercising for at least 20 min,
three times per week for the next three months.
 Specifying the Research Population

The population of interest to the investigators also must be clearly defined
Example: Post-operative patients
In this example, only individuals who have just undergone major heart surgery would be included in the
research population.
 Formulating Items for Direct Measures

Five to six items are formulated to assess each of the theory’s major constructs: Attitude, perceived
norm, perceived behavioral control, and intention. Seven-point bipolar adjective scales are typically
employed. Sample items assessing intention and each aspect of attitude, perceived norm and perceived
control are shown below; additional items and instructions to the participants are shown in the sample
questionnaire (Part II). Participants are asked to circle the number that best describes their personal
opinions. Note that the items are formulated to be exactly compatible with the behavioral criterion and
to be self-
directed.
Attitude: Instrumental and experiential aspects
 Administering a Pilot Questionnaire

Eliciting Salient Beliefs
A small sample of individuals representative of the research population is used to elicit readily accessible
behavioral outcomes, normative referents, and control factors. Although the participants can be
assembled in groups, the elicitation is done individually in a free response format.
Preparing a Standard Questionnaire
We are now ready to put together the standard questionnaire to be used in the main study. This
questionnaire includes the following elements.
(1) Behavioral Beliefs and Outcome Evaluations with respect to each salient behavioral outcome, items
are formulated to assess the strength of the behavioral beliefs and the evaluation of the outcome.
Sample Outcome: Faster recovery from my surgery

Behavioral belief strength
My exercising for at least 20 min, three times per week for the next three months
will result in my having a faster recovery from my surgery.
likely :___1__:___2__:___3__:___4__:___5__:___6__:___7___: unlikely
Outcome evaluation
My having a faster recovery from my surgery is
good :___1__:___2__:___3__:___4__:___5__:___6__:___7___: bad
2) Injunctive Normative Beliefs and Motivation to Comply with respect to each salient normative
referent, items are formulated to assess the strength of the injunctive normative belief and the
motivation to comply with the referent individual or group.
Sample injunctive normative referent: My doctor
Injunctive normative belief strength

My doctor thinks that
I should :___1__:___2__:___3__:___4__:___5__:___6__:___7___: I should not exercise for at least 20
min, hree
times per week for the next three months.
Motivation to comply When it comes to matters of health, I want to do what my doctor thinks I
should do.
agree :___1__:___2__:___3__:___4__:___5__:___6__:___7___: disagree
(3) Descriptive Normative Beliefs and Identification with the Referent With respect to each relevant
salient referent, items are formulated to assess the strength of the descriptive normative belief and the
identification with the referent individual or group.
Sample descriptive normative referent: My friends

Descriptive normative belief strength
Most of my friends who have undergone major heart surgery have exercised for at least 20 min, three
times per week for the three months following surgery.
false :___1__:___2__:___3__:___4__:___5__:___6__:___7___: true
Identification with the referent

When it comes to matters of health, how much do you want to be like your friends?
very much :___1__:___2__:___3__:___4__:___5__:___6__:___7___: not at all
(4) Control Beliefs and Power of Control Factors with respect to each salient control factor, items are
formulated to assess the likelihood
that the factor will be present and the factor’s power to facilitate or impede performance of
the behavior.
Sample control factor: Physical strength

Control belief strength
I expect that I will have physical strength in the next three months.
likely :___1__:___2__:___3__:___4__:___5__:___6__:___7___: unlikeluy
Power of control factor

Having physical strength would enable me to exercise for at least 20 min, three
times per week for the next three months.
disagree :___1__:___2__:___3__:___4__:___5__:___6__:___7___: agree
(5)Direct Measures
Another element of the final questionnaire are the direct measures developed on the
basis of the pilot data to assess attitudes, perceived norm, perceived behavioral control, and
intentions. In addition, the questionnaire will usually also include a measure of past
behavior, as described earlier.
(6) Other Measures

The final questionnaire also includes measures of all demographic characteristics,
personality variables, and other background factors the investigator decided to retain.
(7) Behavior
Three months following administration of the questionnaire (or another period as
defined by the behavioral criterion), the participants are recontacted and asked to report
whether they had exercised for at least 20 min, three times per week for the past three
months

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TPB Questionnaire Construction

 Specifying the Research Population

 Formulating Items for Direct Measures

Attitude: Instrumental and experiential aspects

 Administering a Pilot Questionnaire

Sample Outcome: Faster recovery from my surgery

Sample injunctive normative referent: My doctor

Injunctive normative belief strength

Sample descriptive normative referent: My friends

Identification with the referent

Sample control factor: Physical strength

Power of control factor

(6) Other Measures

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