Development and validation of the startle and surprise Inventories and Visual Analogue scales

Journal Article (2025)
Author(s)

J. Chen (TU Delft - Control & Simulation)

A. Landman (TNO, TU Delft - Control & Simulation)

Alexis Derumigny (TU Delft - Statistics)

O. Stroosma (TU Delft - International Research Institute for Simulation, Motion and Navigation)

MM van Paassen (TU Delft - Control & Simulation)

M. Mulder (TU Delft - Control & Simulation)

Research Group
Control & Simulation
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2025.2529317
More Info
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Publication Year
2025
Language
English
Research Group
Control & Simulation
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Abstract

This paper outlines the three-phase construction of the Startle and Surprise Inventories (Startle-I; Surprise-I) and Visual Analogue Scales for Startle and Surprise (Startle-VAS; Surprise-VAS). In Phase 1, seven experts in the field assessed the content validity of 14 items for surprise, 7 items for startle derived from fundamental and applied literature. Elimination of items was based on a 50% agreement of relevance. In Phase 2, 81 participants completed the retained 19 items nine times, each time immediately after watching a video clip. A multilevel exploratory factor analysis was applied to assess the construct validity of items. In Phase 3, concurrent validity of the Startle-VAS and Surprise-VAS was tested by comparing with the Startle-I and Surprise-I scores, respectively. The first two phases yielded a 11-item two-factor solution, corresponding to the constructs of startle and surprise. These results supported Startle-I and Surprise-I as measures of self-report startle and surprise, with Startle-VAS and Surprise-VAS as efficient alternatives.