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Instruments and Methods in Flow Research

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Psychological Selection and Optimal Experience Across Cultures

Part of the book series: Cross-Cultural Advancements in Positive Psychology ((CAPP,volume 2))

Abstract

A great number of instruments and methodologies are currently available to the flow researcher, the majority of which are based on individuals’ self-reports of the content of their consciousness. Additionally, methods vary according to the level of control exerted on the flow construct: They include observation and interview techniques, psychological surveys, and experimental studies. This variety in measurement can be related to the many ways flow can be empirically operationalized and analyzed. This chapter focuses on the main techniques and instruments available, identifying their strengths and weaknesses. Among the self-reported measures, attention will be paid to single-administration questionnaires (Flow Questionnaire, Flow Short Scale, Flow State Scale-2 and Flow State Dispositional Scale-2, Work-Related Flow Inventory, and Optimal Experience Survey) and online repeated procedures such as the Experience Sampling Method (ESM). The Experience Fluctuation Model in ESM data analysis is presented, as well as the most recent approaches to the study of flow based on nonlinear dynamics and psychophysiological evaluations.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Participants are asked to be as specific as possible when answering open-ended questions.

  2. 2.

    Participants can tick more than one option.

  3. 3.

    Likert-type scales range from 0 “not at all” to 12 “to the maximum”.

  4. 4.

    This question and the following one respectively measure the perceived challenges and skills in the activity (in Italian: “L’attività che stavi svolgendo era per te stimolante e rappresentava un’occasione e un impegno per esprimerti ed agire?”, “Considerando le tue abilità e capacità personali, eri in grado di far fronte alla situazione?”)

  5. 5.

    Likert-type scale ranging from 0 “slow” to 12 “fast”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Luigi Saccos, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157, Milano, Italy

    Antonella Delle Fave (Professor of Psychology), Fausto Massimini (Professor of Psychology) & Marta Bassi (Assistant Professor of Psychology)

Authors
  1. Antonella Delle Fave
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  2. Fausto Massimini
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  3. Marta Bassi
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Correspondence to Antonella Delle Fave .

Appendix

Appendix

Date__________ Time beeped ___________Time you answered ___________

AS YOU WERE BEEPED:

What were you thinking about?Footnote 1

Where were you?

What was the main thing you were doing?

Why were you doing it?Footnote 2Because you wanted to ( )

Because you had to ( )

Because there was nothing else to do ( )

What else were you doing?

How well were you concentrating?Footnote 30–12 scale

Was it hard to concentrate?0–12 scale

How self-conscious were you?0–12 scale

Were you in control of the situation?0–12 scale

DESCRIBE HOW YOU FELT AS YOU WERE BEEPED:

Alert:

0–12 scale

Happy:

0–12 scale

Apathetic:

0–12 scale

Strong:

0–12 scale

Lonely:

0–12 scale

Cheerful:

0–12 scale

Anxious:

0–12 scale

Sociable:

0–12 scale

Active:

0–12 scale

Bored:

0–12 scale

Involved:

0–12 scale

Excited:

0–12 scale

Sad:

0–12 scale

Free:

0–12 scale

Tired:

0–12 scale

Friendly:

0–12 scale

Creative:

0–12 scale

Obliged:

0–12 scale

Relaxed:

0–12 scale

Clear ideas:

0–12 scale

Was the activity you were doing an occasion0–12 scale for self-expression and action?Footnote 4

Considering your personal skills and abilities 0–12 scale were you able to tackle the situation?

Did you wish you had been doing something else?0–12 scale

What?

Was there anything at stake for you in the activity?0–12 scale

What?

AS YOU WERE BEEPED

Who were you with?

Did you wish you had been with somebody else?0–12 scale

Whom with?

Time was passingFootnote 50–12 scale

Did you feel satisfied with yourself?0–12 scale

Did you wish you had been somewhere else?0–12 scale

Where?

Did you feel any particular physical sensation?0–12 scale

Which one/s?

The sensation was: pleasant ( ) unpleasant ( )

Was the activity you were doing important0–12 scale for some overall life goal?

Which one/s?

SINCE YOU WERE LAST BEEPED:

Has anything happened or have you done anything which could have affected the way you feel?

What?

It was: positive ( ) negative ( )

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Delle Fave, A., Massimini, F., Bassi, M. (2011). Instruments and Methods in Flow Research. In: Psychological Selection and Optimal Experience Across Cultures. Cross-Cultural Advancements in Positive Psychology, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9876-4_4

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