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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 and/or 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 him/her 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 he/she wanted.
22. I would not say no.
23. I would let my partner touch wherever he/she 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 he/she has a condom.
38. I would ask my partner if he/she 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 he/she 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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