Pavlovian Temperament Survey [PTS-60]

Description

The Pavlovian Temperament Survey (PTS-60) is a 60-item questionnaire based on Pavlov’s theory of the basic properties of the central nervous system and their relationship with temperament.

The instrument assesses three main functions: Strength of Excitation, Strength of Inhibition, and Mobility of Nervous Processes. A fourth function, referring to the balance between excitation and inhibition, is also described theoretically but is not assessed in the Greek version.

The items are formulated in a way that can be understood by the general population and do not require specialized knowledge.

Purpose

The main purpose of the PTS-60 is to assess basic temperamental characteristics which, according to Pavlov’s theoretical framework, are related to the functioning of the central nervous system.

The instrument allows investigation of how individuals respond to different stimuli and situations and contributes to the study of the behavioral expression of basic neurophysiological functions.

Main Dimensions

Strength of Excitation refers to the capacity of the nervous system to respond to and maintain functioning under conditions of intense or prolonged stimulation.

Strength of Inhibition concerns the ability to suppress, control, or discontinue responses when circumstances require it.

Mobility of Nervous Processes refers to the speed and ease with which an individual can shift from one type of reaction or activity to another.

Structure and Scoring

The PTS-60 consists of 60 items, answered on a four-point Likert scale:

Strongly Agree
Rather Agree
Rather Disagree
Strongly Disagree

Each response corresponds to a numerical value, and the item scores are combined to calculate scores for the three main subscales.

These scores allow the development of an individual temperamental profile in relation to the functioning of the nervous system.

Validity

The validity of the instrument is supported by the common procedure used for its construction and application in more than 20 countries, including Germany, England, Italy, India, and Russia.

The use of a common methodological framework and its adaptation across different populations support the conceptual validity of the instrument.

Reliability

Internal consistency coefficients for the three main subscales were:

Cronbach’s α = 0.86 for Strength of Excitation
Cronbach’s α = 0.80 for Strength of Inhibition
Cronbach’s α = 0.88 for Mobility of Nervous Processes

Test–retest reliability coefficients were:

r = 0.78 for Strength of Excitation
r = 0.59 for Strength of Inhibition
r = 0.82 for Mobility of Nervous Processes

These values indicate satisfactory to high reliability for most dimensions of the instrument.

Data Analysis and Use

Results can be analyzed separately for each of the three dimensions or jointly in order to develop an overall profile of temperamental functioning.

The PTS-60 may be used in psychological and psychophysiological research, as well as in applications examining adaptation, responses to environmental stimuli, and the relationship between temperament and behavior.

Reference

Kalantzi-Azizi, A., Christakopoulou, S., Mylonas, K., Angleitner, A., & Strelau, J. (1996). Measurement of temperament in adults with the Pavlovian Temperament Survey. Psychology, 3, 130–138.