Measurement of depth of desired and experienced sexual involvement at different stages of dating

Abstract A scale was constructed which may be used to measure depth of desired and experienced sexual involvement during various stages of dating. Consisting of 12 items, the scale was constructed after administering a scale of 16 items, derived from previously published scales, to 259 subjects. Test‐retest reliability for the desired behaviors and actual experiences of 61 subjects was found to range as high as .86 for dating desires to .96 for dating behavior. The coefficients of reproducibility and scalability were found to range from .94 to .95 and from .70 to .79, respectively, using 2,001 subjects. Coefficient alpha ranged from .87 to .99 for different uses of the scale. Item to total correlations and construct validity were examined using the responses of 156 subjects and 259 subjects, respectively. Results showed that although initial differences existed between the sexes, compatibility of behavior and desire developed over stages of dating and with increasing age. Criterion validity was measured using 29 couples in a going‐steady relationship. These couples exhibited a high level of compatibility in sexual desire.