Scoring the BREQ
As with other measures of the continuum of self-determination, the BREQ has been used either as a multidimensional instrument giving separate scores for each subscale, or as a unidimensional index of the degree of self-determination, known as the relative autonomy index (Ryan & Connell, 1989). The choice of method will depend upon the research question being asked or perhaps by the constraints imposed by sample size and the intended statistical analyses. We present methods for calculating the RAI below. However, researchers considering using the RAI should read Chemolli and Gagne (2014) who present cogent theoretical and statistical arguments against the use of the RAI and we no longer recommend its use.
Multidimensional scoring
In order to use the BREQ as multidimensional scales, simply calculate the mean scores for each set of items as indicated below (the original BREQ scoring key is given for anyone still using that version).
BREQ |
Items |
| External regulation | 1 |
5 |
9 |
13 |
||
| Introjected regulation | 2 |
6 |
10 |
|||
| Identified regulation | 3 |
7 |
11 |
14 |
||
| Intrinsic regulation | 4 |
8 |
12 |
15 |
||
BREQ-2 |
| Amotivation | 5 |
9 |
12 |
19 |
||
| External regulation | 1 |
6 |
11 |
16 |
||
| Introjected regulation | 2 |
7 |
13 |
|||
| Identified regulation | 3 |
8 |
14 |
17 |
||
| Intrinsic regulation | 4 |
10 |
15 |
18 |
BREQ-3 |
| Amotivation | 2 |
8 |
14 |
20 |
|||
| External regulation | 6 |
12 |
18 |
24 |
|||
| Introjected regulation | 4 |
10 |
16 |
22 |
* | ||
| Identified regulation | 1 |
7 |
13 |
19 |
|||
| Integrated regulation | 5 |
11 |
17 |
23 |
|||
| Intrinsic regulation | 3 |
9 |
15 |
21 |
* New item |
The Relative Autonomy Index
The relative autonomy index (RAI) is a single score derived from the subscales that gives an index of the degree to which respondents feel self-determined. The index is obtained by applying a weighting to each subscale and then summing these weighted scores. In other words, each subscale score is multiplied by its weighting and then these weighted scores are summed. Higher, positive scores indicate greater relative autonomy; lower, negative scores indicate more controlled regulation.
For the original BREQ the weightings are as follows:
| External regulation | -2 |
||
| Introjected regulation | -1 |
||
| Identified regulation | +1 |
||
| Intrinsic regulation | +2 |
Computation of an RAI for the BREQ-2 is a little more problematic as it comprises an odd number of subscales. For the time being, I recommend applying the following weightings, bearing in mind the need for further research to establish the best way to weight these scales:
| Amotivation | -3 |
||
| External regulation | -2 |
||
| Introjected regulation | -1 |
||
| Identified regulation | +2 |
||
| Intrinsic regulation | +3 |
For the BREQ-3 the weightings are as follows:
| Amotivation | -3 |
||
| External regulation | -2 |
||
| Introjected regulation | -1 |
||
| Identified regulation | +1 |
||
| Integrated regulation | +2 |
||
| Intrinsic regulation | +3 |