Test-Retest Reliability of the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C and the Elkins Hypnotizability Scale.

ABSTRACT

This project aimed to assess the consistency of hypnotizability over repeated assessments when measured by the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale Form C (SHSSC), and the Elkins Hypnotizability Scale (EHS) and to contrast score distribution and pleasantness of these scales. University students were administered either the SHSSC or the EHS twice with a one-week delay by separate experimenters. Test-retest reliability of the EHS and the SHSSC was r s =.82 (.71-.92) and r s =.66, 95% (.47-.86), respectively (Spearman's correlation). Hypnotizability was comparable at test and retest in the EHS group, SHSSC scores decreased by the retest. We found that the SHSSC produced higher scores than the EHS, and the pleasantness of the 2 scales was comparable. Overall, our results supported the reliability of the EHS, while SHSSC scores were more inconsistent between the 2 assessments. More research is warranted.