Description of the Questionnaire

The Positive Emotions Test (DES.MOD) is an adaptation of the original Differential Emotions Scale (DES) developed by Izard (1977) and later modified by Fredrickson, Tugade, Waugh & Larkin (2003). Its purpose is to record the intensity and frequency with which positive emotions are experienced by adults. The questionnaire includes eleven positive emotions and is addressed to individuals who are asked to assess the degree to which they experienced these emotions over the past two weeks.

Data Analysis and Use

Participants are asked to rate each of the eleven emotions using a five-point scale: 1 = Not at all, 2 = A little, 3 = Moderately, 4 = Very much, 5 = Extremely. The final positive emotion index is calculated as the average of all emotion ratings. In cases where a negative emotion subscale is also used, a ratio of positive to negative emotions can be calculated, offering a more complete picture of the participant’s emotional state.

Purpose

The aim of the questionnaire is to assess the degree of positive emotional experience and to explore its relationship with the presence of negative emotions in the adult population. It serves as a useful tool for both research and clinical applications.

Scoring

Participants are asked to indicate to what extent they experienced the following eleven emotions during the past two weeks. The evaluation is based on the following five-point scale: 1 = Not at all, 2 = A little, 3 = Moderately, 4 = Very much, 5 = Extremely. The emotions are: Joy, Pleasure, Excitement, Calmness, Curiosity, Hope, Pride, Trust, Inspiration, Gratitude, Love. Each participant assigns a score for every emotion. The overall score is calculated as the average of all responses, providing an indicator of the individual’s positive emotional experience.

Bibliography

Fredrickson, B. L., Tugade, M. M., Waugh, C. E., & Larkin, G. R. (2003). What good are positive emotions in crises? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84, 365–376.
Izard, C. E. (1977). Human emotions. New York: Plenum Press.
Izard, C. E., & Ackerman, B. P. (2000). Motivational, organizational, and regulatory functions of discrete emotions. In M. Lewis & J. M. Haviland-Jones (Eds.), Handbook of Emotions (pp. 253–264). New York: Guilford Press.