Loading...
Measuring anxiety in left and right handers via the BIS/BAS scale: Is there a difference when the scales are reversed?
Davis, Felicity
Davis, Felicity
Advisors
Editors
Other Contributors
Affiliation
EPub Date
Publication Date
2016
Submitted Date
Collections
Files
Loading...
Main article
Microsoft Word XML, 7.75 MB
Other Titles
Abstract
A considerable amount of research suggests that left-handers experience more behavioural inhibition and anxiety than right-handers. This is due to the assumption that left-handers operate with a right hemispheric dominance, where behavioural inhibition is believed to be processed. The current study examined the relationship between handedness, behavioural approach and inhibition, where it was hypothesised that left-handers would achieve a higher score of behavioural inhibition than right-handers. Additionally, the effects of inverting the scale of measurement were examined, as previous investigations suggest that left-handers prefer items to the leftward spatial area, whereas right-handers prefer items to the rightward spatial area. Participants (N=213) completed two self-report questionnaires online, Carver and White’s (1994) BIS/BAS scale and the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (Oldfield, 1971). Participants were presented with either the normal version of the BIS/BAS scale, or the inverted version. No significant effects of handedness were obtained, thus suggesting that being left-handed does not increase anxiety. Additionally, there were no significant effects of inverting the BIS/BAS scale. The lack of significant results are discussed in relation to the importance of measuring handedness as a continuous variable rather than as a dichotomous variable.
Citation
Davis, F. (2016). Measuring anxiety in left and right handers via the BIS/BAS scale: is there a difference when the scales are reversed? (Master's thesis). University of Chester, United Kingdom.
Publisher
University of Chester
Journal
Research Unit
DOI
PubMed ID
PubMed Central ID
Type
Thesis or dissertation
Language
en