A multitrait-multimethod validity assessment of the verbal aggressiveness and argumentativeness scales

The construct validity of Infante and Wigley's verbal aggressiveness scale and Infante and Rancer's argumentativeness scale are assessed with confirmatory factor analysis and multitrait-multimethod analysis. The factor analytic data replicate previous findings that the verbal aggressiveness scale measures two constructs, verbal aggressiveness and verbal benevolence communication style, and that the argumentativeness scale is unidimensional with some poor items. The multimethod data, however, show near zero correlations between self-reports and observed behavior and evidence of method variance. These data indicate a discrepancy between conceptual definitions and behaviors. Rather than measuring behavioral dispositions to communicate argumentatively or aggressively, the scales may function as attitude or self-concept scales. © 2009 National Communication Association.