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Intellectual Humility Scale - Adolescents

Before beginning the survey, we recommend playing our sound check video. You can then ask, "Could you hear that ok?"

Please play Video 1: Introduction or read this transcription to make sure the participant is thinking about evidence-based beliefs. 

Present the following two blocks in a randomized order

Block 1: Similarity Items

Depending on the order of blocks for this participant, the Similarity-First or Similarity-Second Instructions will be presented. 

  • Similarity-First Instructions​

We’re interested in how people like you think about what they know. During this survey, you’ll read sentences about how people think about what they know, and you’ll be asked to choose how much each one is like you.

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  • Similarity-Second Instructions

Now, you’ll read sentences and you’ll be asked to choose how much each one is like you.

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1. It’s important to think about whether my ideas are right or wrong. How much is this like you? ​

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2. When someone says that I am wrong, I try to understand why they think that I am wrong. How much is this like you?

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​3. I listen to other people’s ideas because they might know things that I don’t know. How much is this like you?

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4. When solving a hard problem, I learn a lot from people who have different ideas than me. How much is this like you?

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5. When I learn I am wrong about something, I change my mind. How much is this like you?

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​6. I will probably change my ideas if I learn something new that shows me that I am wrong. How much is this like you?

Present the following six items in a randomized order 

Not like me​

Not like me​

Not like me​

Not like me​

Not like me​

Not like me​

A little like me​

A little like me​

A little like me​

A little like me​

A little like me​

A little like me​

Somewhat like me​

Somewhat like me​

Somewhat like me​

Somewhat like me​

Somewhat like me​

Somewhat like me​

A lot like me

A lot like me

A lot like me

A lot like me

A lot like me

A lot like me

Almost exactly like me​

Almost exactly like me​

Almost exactly like me​

Almost exactly like me​

Almost exactly like me​

Almost exactly like me​

Block 2: Frequency Items

Depending on the order of blocks for this participant, the Frequency-First or Frequency-Second Instructions will be presented. 

  • Frequency-First Instructions​

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  • Frequency-Second Instructions

We’re interested in how people like you think about what they know. During this survey, you’ll read sentences about how people think about what they know, and you’ll be asked to choose how often each one happens to you.

Now, you’ll read sentences and you’ll be asked to choose how often each one happens to you.

Present the following four items in a randomized order 

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7. How often do you think more about your ideas to see if they are actually correct? ​

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8. How often do you think about whether your ideas are right or wrong?

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​9. How often does listening to other people’s ideas give you new ideas?

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10. How often do you change your mind when you find out that you are wrong?

Never

Never

Never

Rarely

Rarely

Rarely

Sometimes

Sometimes

Sometimes

Often

Often

Often

Almost always

Almost always

Almost always

Never

Rarely

Sometimes

Often

Almost always

At the end of the survey, please debrief the participant:
"Thank you for participating in our study! Would you like to hear about why we're doing this study?"

If yes: "In this study, we asked questions to learn more about how people think about what they already know or do not know, how they learn new things, and how they change their minds when they learn something new."

If no: "If you have questions at any point, feel free to email us!"
 

Note: Items 1, 2, 7, and 8 measure Metacognitive Awareness; items 3, 4, and 9 measure Other's Perspectives; and items 5, 6, and 10 measure Revising Beliefs. Items 1-6 are rated by similarity ('Not like me' ... 'Almost exactly like me'), and items 7-10 are rated by frequency ('Never' ... 'Almost always').

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The order of the two blocks (similarity and frequency) should be randomized, and the order of the items within each block should be randomized. Preview the survey flow here.

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In the initial phase of this project, the scale was validated for use with 6- to 10-year-olds and adults using the other versions of the scale.

Instructions for Experimenters:
  

  • Move your cursor away from the response options when after asking questions. 

  • Read slowly and clearly.

  • Read all questions and response options in a consistent, neutral tone. 

  • Read from the screen word-for-word and do not paraphrase. 

  • Don't give any feedback (e.g., "Great!") until the end of the survey.

  • For each question, read the item off the screen, then point to each option while reading it out loud. For example, "How often do you change your mind when you find out that you are wrong? Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Often, or Almost Always?" 

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How to Respond:

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  • If the participant doesn't respond after 10 seconds or says "I don't know": "There are no right or wrong answers - we’re just interested in what you think." You can also read the question again and ask, "What do you think?"
    If they still don't want to answer: "That's ok, we can skip this one," and click Next.
     

  • If the participant says they’re in between two response options: "Which one is it closer to? Is it closer to this one or to this one?"   (point to the options)
    If they still can’t choose after prompting them twice, leave it blank and click Next.
     

  • If the participant asks for clarification, please repeat the question and say: "What do you think? There are no right or wrong answers."
    If they still don’t know: "Do you want to take a guess or skip this one?"    ​

 

Demo video coming soon

© Developing Intellectual Humility

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