Initial report of the Argumentativeness Index of Behavioral Indicators for measuring trait argumentativeness

ABSTRACT Infante and Rancer’s (1982) Argumentativeness Scale has withstood the test of time, but questions remain among some scholars as to specific scale items and how those items might affect structural and predictive validity. Infante and his colleagues have always called upon others constructively to improve on the measurement of trait argumentativeness. This investigation answers that call by developing a new measure, the Argumentativeness Index of Behavioral Indicators, that dramatically differs in structure and method of measurement from the Argumentativeness Scale. This new scale uses an alternative to Likert items. Items were designed to reflect a tendency toward specific behaviors rather than attitudes. Argumentativeness Index of Behavioral Indicators is a scalar alternative to the Argumentativeness Scale, but not necessarily a replacement. The goal of the present investigation was not to change the Argumentativeness Scale as an operational definition of argumentativeness but, rather, to provide an alternative operational definition of trait argumentativeness.