The Brief Aggression Questionnaire: Structure, Validity, Reliability, and Generalizability

J Pers Assess. 2015;97(6):638-49. doi: 10.1080/00223891.2015.1044093. Epub 2015 Jun 9.

Abstract

In contexts that increasingly demand brief self-report measures (e.g., experience sampling, longitudinal and field studies), researchers seek succinct surveys that maintain reliability and validity. One such measure is the 12-item Brief Aggression Questionnaire (BAQ; Webster et al., 2014), which uses 4 3-item subscales: Physical Aggression, Verbal Aggression, Anger, and Hostility. Although prior work suggests the BAQ's scores are reliable and valid, we addressed some lingering concerns. Across 3 studies (N = 1,279), we found that the BAQ had a 4-factor structure, possessed long-term test-retest reliability across 12 weeks, predicted differences in behavioral aggression over time in a laboratory experiment, generalized to a diverse nonstudent sample, and showed convergent validity with a displaced aggression measure. In addition, the BAQ's 3-item Anger subscale showed convergent validity with a trait anger measure. We discuss the BAQ's potential reliability, validity, limitations, and uses as an efficient measure of aggressive traits.

Publication types

  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aggression / psychology*
  • Anger*
  • Factor Analysis, Statistical
  • Female
  • Hostility*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult