THE DEVELOPMENT AND APPROBATION OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE FOR DETECTING THE TENDENCY TO GOSSIP (TTGQ – TENDENCY TO GOSSIP QUESTIONNAIRE): A PILOT STUDY

Abstract

Gossiping is a widespread phenomenon in interpersonal relationships, significantly impacting social dynamics and the emotional state of participants. It has the potential to create distrust and conflict, especially when false information is involved. Despite its prevalence, there is a lack of reliable instruments to measure gossip propensity. This article aims to present the results of a pilot study that involved developing and validating a psychodiagnostic questionnaire to identify individuals' inclination to engage in gossip. To achieve this, an analysis of classical and modern scientific sources was conducted to explore gossip as both a psychological and social construct. The article outlines the stages of questionnaire development and highlights adjustments made based on the obtained results. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach's Alpha, resulting in a coefficient of 0.838 for the overall scale and 0.634 for the lying subscale. These coefficients indicate a high level of reliability, suggesting that the questionnaire items effectively measure the same underlying construct and exhibit interrelatedness. Thus, the results obtained using this questionnaire can be considered reliable and accurate, making it an effective tool for measuring tendencies towards gossiping. The psychodiagnostic questionnaire presented in this study fills the gap in existing measurement instruments, providing researchers with a valuable tool to explore and understand gossip propensity in interpersonal relationships.