Description

The Experiences in Close Relationships – Revised (ECR-R) questionnaire is a self-report tool designed to assess attachment patterns in adults, with a focus on anxiety and avoidance related to close interpersonal relationships. The tool is widely used in psychological research to measure individual differences in how people form and maintain emotional bonds with significant others, primarily in romantic relationships.

Analysis and Data Use (ECR-R)

The ECR-R consists of 36 statements divided into two subscales:
Anxiety Subscale: Measures the degree to which a person fears abandonment and rejection.
Avoidance Subscale: Measures the degree to which a person feels discomfort with closeness and intimacy in relationships.
Each statement is rated on a seven-point Likert scale, from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). The two dimensions—anxiety and avoidance—are considered orthogonal (independent), meaning an individual can score high or low on both simultaneously.
Data analysis from the ECR-R includes:
Descriptive Statistics: Summarizing the mean scores for anxiety and avoidance levels.
Factor Analysis: Confirming the two-dimensional structure of the tool.
Correlational Analysis: Examining the relationship between attachment dimensions and other psychological variables (e.g., relationship satisfaction, mental health, interpersonal behavior).
Regression Analysis: Studying the predictive capacity of attachment patterns regarding relationship outcomes.

Purpose

The main purpose of using the ECR-R is:
Assessment of Adult Attachment Styles: The tool helps researchers and clinicians categorize individuals as secure, anxious, avoidant, or a combination, based on their scores in the two dimensions (anxiety and avoidance).
Understanding Relationship Dynamics: Data are used to explore how attachment styles affect the quality, satisfaction, and stability of relationships, both romantic and non-romantic.
Intervention Development: In psychotherapy, it helps therapists understand clients’ relationship issues and design interventions to improve relational functioning.

Validation

For the effective use of the ECR-R, psychometric validation is required through:
Internal Consistency: Assessing reliability via Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the anxiety and avoidance subscales.
Test-Retest Reliability: Examining the stability of attachment patterns over time.
Convergent and Discriminant Validity: Comparing ECR-R results with other attachment and interpersonal functioning measures to confirm its validity.
Researchers often standardize the questionnaire in different populations and cultural contexts to ensure its general applicability.

References

Some key sources for the ECR-R include:
Fraley, R. C., Waller, N. G., & Brennan, K. A. (2000). An item response theory analysis of self-report measures of adult attachment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(2), 350–365.
(This work introduced the ECR-R, describing its theoretical framework and psychometric analysis.)
Brennan, K. A., Clark, C. L., & Shaver, P. R. (1998). Self-report measurement of adult attachment: An integrative overview. In Attachment Theory and Close Relationships (Eds. J. A. Simpson & W. S. Rholes), pp. 46–76. New York: Guilford Press.
(This work laid the foundations for the development of the ECR-R.)
Fraley, R. C., & Shaver, P. R. (2000). Adult romantic attachment: Theoretical developments, emerging controversies, and unanswered questions. Review of General Psychology, 4(2), 132–154.
(An overview of attachment theory and its application to adult relationships.)
Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2007). Attachment in Adulthood: Structure, Dynamics, and Change. Guilford Press.
(A comprehensive study of attachment theory and its impact on emotional and interpersonal processes.)