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Consent to Sex Scale

The Consent to Sex (CSS) Scale is a 44-item measure to capture college students’ cues for indicating consent to sex. The scale measures the following 5 types of cues: Nonverbal Signals of Interest, Passive Behaviors, Verbal Cues, Initiator Behaviors, and Removal Behaviors.

Categories

Geographies Tested: United States of America

Populations Included: Female, Male

Age Range: Adults

Items:

  1. There would be physical contact between myself and my partner
  2. I would move closer to my partner
  3. I would appear interested in sexual activity with my partner
  4. I would engage in foreplay with my partner
  5. I would kiss my partner
  6. I would let my partner know through my actions to show comfort with the behavior
  7. I would use body language or signals
  8. I would fool around with my partner
  9. I would flirt
  10. I would touch my partner’s body such as their legs andor arms
  11. I would actively participate in sexual activity
  12. I would smile
  13. I would use nonverbal cues or gestures
  14. I would let my partner start sexual behavior and not tell himher to stop
  15. I would not resist my partner’s attempts for sexual activity
  16. I would let my partner have sex with me
  17. I would not stop my partner’s advances
  18. I would let the sexual activity progress to the point of intercourse
  19. I would not push my partner away
  20. I would continue with sexual activity
  21. I would let my partner go as far as heshe wanted
  22. I would not say no
  23. I would let my partner touch wherever heshe wanted on my body
  24. I would initiate sexual behavior
  25. I would make a move
  26. I would unzip my pants
  27. I would move my partner’s hands to my pants or lower body
  28. I would initiate sexual behavior and see if it is reciprocated
  29. I would make a move and check my partner’s reaction
  30. I would just keep moving forward in sexual behaviors or actions unless my partner stopped me
  31. I would talk about it with my partner
  32. I would give permission to engage in sexual intercourse
  33. I would tell my partner what types of sexual behavior I want to engage
  34. I would suggest having sex to my partner
  35. I would verbally communicate my interest in sexual behavior
  36. I would tell my partner I am interested in engaging in sexual intercourse
  37. I would ask my partner if heshe has a condom
  38. I would ask my partner if heshe wants me to get a condom
  39. I would ask my partner if they are interested in engaging in sexual intercourse
  40. I would say it is okay to engage in sexual activity
  41. I would take my partner somewhere private
  42. I would take my partner on a date
  43. I would shut or close the door
  44. I would ask my partner if heshe wants to go back to my place

Response Options 4-point Likert Scale

Scoring Procedures

Means are calculated.

Original Citation

Jozkowski, K. N., & Peterson, Z. D. (2014). Assessing the validity and reliability of the perceptions of the Consent To Sex Scale. Journal of Sex Research, 51(6), 632-645. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2012.757282


Psychometric Score

Ease of Use Score

Scoring breakdown

Formative Research

Qualitative Research

Existing Literature/Theoretical Framework

Field Expert Input

Cognitive Interviews / Pilot Testing

Reliability

Internal

Test-retest

Interrater

Validity

Content

Face

Criterion (gold-standard)

Construct

KEY

Ease of Use

Readability

Scoring Clarity

Length

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