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Betts

Questionnaire Upon Mental Imagery

Shortened Form by Peter W. Sheehan

 

Source: Sheehan, P.W. (1967).  A shortened form of Betts' Questionnaire upon Mental Imagery.  Journal of Clinical Psychology, 23, 386-389.

Based on: Betts, G.H. (1909).  The distribution and functions of mental imagery.  Teachers' College Columbia University Contributions to Education, 26, 1-99.

Employed in: Kihlstrom, J.F., Glisky, M.L., Peterson, M.A., Harvey, E.M., & Rose, P.M. (1991). Vividness and control of mental imagery: A psychometric analysis. Journal of Mental Imagery, 15, 133-142.

 

Instructions:  This questionnaire measures the clarity and vividness of your ability of mental imagery. You will be asked to generate an image of specific items in your mind, and to rate how clear and vivid you "see" these items in your mind.

For example: Think of a red traffic light. Use the following scale to described how clear and vivid you "see" the red traffic light.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Very vivid and clear as in reality

Vivid and almost as clear as in reality

generally clear and vivid

not so clear and vivid but still recognizable

vague and unclear

very vague and hardly recognizable

I think of it, but do not have an image before me

Please do the same for each of the following items. Choose from the above-mentioned descriptions that best fits the imagined item, in order to indicate how clear and vivid your mental imagery of that item is.

There are no correct or false answers and there is no time limit. Do not linger too long with a specific item; a first impression is often the right one. Please do not skip any items.

 

Visualize a mental image of a friend you see on a regular basis.

How clear and vivid do you see:

1. The characteristic lines of the face, head, shoulders and upper body?
2. The most characteristic positioning of the head and the body?
3. The characteristic behavior while walking / stepping (e.g., strode length)?
4. The various colors of clothes that are worn often?
5. How clear and vivid is the visual image you hold before your eyes when you think of a setting sun?

 

How clear and vivid can you imagine the sound when you think of:

6. The whistle of a train?
7. The horn of a car?
8. The meowing of a cat?
9. The sound of escaping steam?
10. The clapping of hands of applause?

 

How clear and vivid can you imagine the touch of:

11. Sand?
12. Linen?
13. Fur?
14. A pinprick?
15. A luke-warm bath?

 

Think of what you do with your arms, legs, lips, etc.

How clear and vivid can you imagine what you do when you:

16. Climb the stairs?
17. Jump across a stream?
18. Draw a circle on a piece of paper?
19. Reach for an object on a high shelf?
20. Kick something away?

 

How clear and vivid can you imagine the taste of:

21. Salt?
22. White crystal sugar?
23. Apple juice?
24. Jam?
25. Your favorite dish?

 

How clear and vivid can you imagine the smell of:

26. A stuffy room?
27. Boiling vegetables?
28. Roasting meat?
29. Freshly applied paint?
30. Leather?

 

How clear and vivid can you imagine the feeling / emotion of:

31. Fatigue?
32. Hunger?
33. A sore throat?
34. Sleepiness?
35. Satisfaction after a tasty meal?