Reliability and validity of a novel measure of nonviolent communication behaviors.
Research on Social Work Practice, 33(7), 790-797, 2023
Cheung, C. T., Cheng, C. M. H., Lam, S. K. K., Ling, H. W. H., Lau, K. L., Hung, S. L., & Fung, H. W.
DOI : 10.1177/10497315221128595
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Abstract: This article describes the development and pilot psychometric evaluation of a self-report measure of characteristic NVC behaviors (e.g., awareness of feelings, honest self-expression). Data from an online sample of young adults (N = 205) were analyzed. The Nonviolent Communication Behavior Scale
Communication Behavior Scale (NVCBS) showed satisfactory internal consistency (α = 0.789 to 0.810), good test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.810) and confidence (ICC = 0.9). The NVCBS was also positively correlated with empathy and negatively correlated with negative beliefs about emotions, demonstrating its construct validity.
Comment: The practice of NVC is not directly studied here, only a scale that evaluates spontaneous behaviors that come close to it.
As the authors point out, this study has several limitations. Firstly, in the sample of young Chinese adults, most of the participants were women, which limits the generalizability of the results. Secondly, they relied on self-report measures, explicit tests, with all the complacency biases this implies. Future studies could use qualitative methods to explore how participants understand the NVCBS items.
In addition, they did not examine the responsiveness (sensitivity to change) of this scale, and they did not examine the criterion validity of the measure (for example, by comparing participants with and without prior NVC training).
Perspective: It would be interesting to evaluate a population of NVC practitioners and see whether they differ from the rest of the population. The authors continued their study of this scale with post-traumatic syndromes.