Development and Initial Validation of the Single-Item Wittiness Scale: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

The present study aim was the construction and initial validation of the Single-Item Wittiness Scale (SIWS). We define wittiness as a specific type of humor production, which includes two separate processes: production fluency and production success (Moran et al., 2013). In that sense,the single item that was constructed reflects both of these processes. The SIWS was administered to a total sample of 83 high school students (30 male and 53 female), together with the As-if-Scale (Renner et al.,2008)and katagelasticism subscale of the PhoPhiKat (Ruch & Proyer, 2009). The results show that, first, self and peer-rated wittiness were positively associated. Second, males tend to have higher scores on peer-rated wittiness. Next, histrionic self-presentation style correlated positively with both self and peer ratings of wittiness. Finally, (active) katagelasticism was not associated with either self or peer-rated wittiness. Therefore the construct validity of the SIWS was partially confirmed.