Critique of the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale: British Usage and Factorial Structure

Abstract

The Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale is criticized with regard to a number of procedural and technical details as the result of pilot experience. It is suggested that it cannot be administered and scored with complete efficiency by one E working on his own. The administration and content of the scale were modified in a number of specified ways and 43 Ss were tested, E and O being present at each individual session. The results were analyzed with respect to the percentage of Ss passing each item, item-scale correlations, inter-item correlations, and factorial structure. These results were compared with those obtained with the scale in two other studies published by different authors. The significance of the differences observed was discussed and suggestions were made for future research.