Description

The Interpersonal Communication Motives Scale (ICM-AQ28) is a standardized psychometric instrument designed to assess the underlying psychological motives that drive individuals to engage in interpersonal communication. The questionnaire examines the reasons people initiate, maintain, and participate in conversations, providing a comprehensive understanding of the motivational processes that influence communication behavior across personal, educational, professional, and social contexts. Developed as a shortened 28-item version of the original Interpersonal Communication Motives Scale, the ICM-AQ28 offers an efficient yet psychometrically robust assessment of communication motives while maintaining strong measurement properties.

Interpersonal communication is a fundamental component of human interaction, serving not only as a means of exchanging information but also as a mechanism for building relationships, expressing emotions, influencing others, acquiring knowledge, and fulfilling social and psychological needs. Individual differences in communication motives influence the frequency, quality, and effectiveness of interpersonal interactions and are closely associated with personality, emotional intelligence, social competence, leadership, relationship satisfaction, and psychological well-being.

The questionnaire evaluates multiple motivational dimensions of interpersonal communication, including the desire to understand oneself and others through communication, the need for social interaction and interpersonal connection, the motivation to influence or persuade others, and the pursuit of enjoyment and satisfaction through social exchanges. These motivational patterns provide valuable insight into individual communication styles and interpersonal functioning across diverse social environments.

The ICM-AQ28 is widely used in communication studies, psychology, counseling, educational sciences, organizational behavior, leadership research, sociology, behavioral sciences, healthcare communication, and social psychology, where it serves as an important instrument for evaluating communication motives and understanding the psychological processes underlying interpersonal interactions.

Data Analysis and Use

Data obtained from the Interpersonal Communication Motives Scale (ICM-AQ28) are analyzed using comprehensive psychometric and statistical procedures designed to evaluate the motivational factors that influence interpersonal communication. Participants’ responses are transformed into quantitative scores representing the principal communication motives assessed by the instrument, allowing researchers and practitioners to identify individual motivational profiles and examine their relationships with psychological, social, and behavioral variables.

Psychometric evaluation typically includes analyses of internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, together with assessments of test–retest reliability, construct validity, content validity, criterion validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA/CFA) to verify the theoretical structure of the questionnaire. Additional analyses may include composite reliability, item-total correlations, measurement invariance across demographic groups, and item response analyses to ensure robust psychometric performance.

Statistical analyses commonly include descriptive statistics, calculation of means and standard deviations, Pearson or Spearman correlation analyses, multiple regression models, hierarchical regression, structural equation modeling (SEM), mediation and moderation analyses, cluster analysis, and comparative analyses such as independent-samples t-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA). These methods enable researchers to investigate associations between communication motives and variables such as personality traits, emotional intelligence, communication competence, leadership style, relationship quality, social anxiety, self-esteem, organizational commitment, teamwork, and psychological well-being.

The findings are valuable in educational settings, organizational development, counseling services, leadership training, healthcare communication, and interpersonal skills interventions. They assist researchers and professionals in identifying communication needs, evaluating intervention effectiveness, strengthening interpersonal competence, and developing evidence-based strategies that promote more effective and meaningful communication.

Objective

The primary objective of the Interpersonal Communication Motives Scale (ICM-AQ28) is to provide a reliable and valid assessment of the psychological motives that influence interpersonal communication and social interaction. The questionnaire enables psychologists, communication researchers, educators, counselors, organizational consultants, and healthcare professionals to evaluate why individuals communicate, how motivational differences influence interpersonal behavior, and how communication motives contribute to relationship development, collaboration, and social adaptation.

The instrument supports both scientific research and applied practice by facilitating the investigation of communication processes across educational, occupational, healthcare, and community settings. It also contributes to the design of interventions aimed at improving communication skills, strengthening interpersonal relationships, enhancing teamwork, and promoting effective leadership and social participation.

Scoring

The Interpersonal Communication Motives Scale (ICM-AQ28) consists of 28 self-report items, with responses typically recorded using a Likert-type response scale reflecting the degree to which each statement represents the participant’s motives for interpersonal communication. Individual item scores are summed to calculate an overall communication motivation score together with scores representing the principal motivational dimensions assessed by the instrument.

Higher scores indicate stronger motivation to engage in interpersonal communication, greater interest in social interaction, increased desire to understand and influence others, and greater tendency to seek enjoyment and satisfaction through communication. Lower scores suggest reduced motivation for interpersonal interaction, less frequent engagement in social communication, and lower reliance on communication as a means of achieving personal or social goals.

Interpretation of questionnaire scores should always be supported by comprehensive psychometric evaluation, including analyses of Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, construct validity, criterion validity, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, measurement invariance, and cross-cultural validation, ensuring accurate and reliable assessment across diverse populations and research settings.

References

Burgoon, J. K., & Hale, J. L. (1984). The Fundamental Themes of Interpersonal Communication Motives: An Exploratory Study. Communication Research, 11(3), 349–377.

Wood, J. T. (2009). Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters. Sage Publications.

McCroskey, J. C., & Richmond, V. P. (1996). Human Communication Theory and Research: Perspectives, Principles, and Practices. Routledge.

Wheeless, L. R., & Grotz, J. (1977). The Measurement of Trust and Its Relationship to the Communication Process. Human Communication Research, 3(3), 250–257.