Validation of the Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking (AISS): efficiency to predict the willingness towards occupational chance, and affection by social desirability

Taking up the suggestion by Arnett, the present study examines the criterion oriented validity of the Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking (Arnett, 1994), using the willingness towards occupational change as criterion. Furthermore the extent to which the AISS Scales are influenced by social desirability was tested. The study analysed a sample of German employees of public utility companies in Leipzig (N=205) aged 21-60 years. In addition to sensation seeking, the levels of achievement motivation and social desirability were also assessed. Willingness toward occupational change was measured by the duration of present employment and the intention of changing workplace. The findings indicate that the AISS proved to be unaffected by social desirability. Regression analyses show that the AISS-scale "Intensity" is, in addition to achievement motivation, a significant predictor of the intention of changing workplace. However, no relationship was found linking sensation seeking to the duration of present employment. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.