title: Comparability and reliability of techniques to assess personal future extension.
abstract: The diversity of existing procedures for assessing personal future time perspective requires that we establish whether the techniques used to operationalize even any one dimension are in fact comparable. A sample of 83 older women (mean age = 74.1 years) responded to a questionnaire containing four different techniques commonly employed for determining personal future extension--how far into the future a person is thinking: (a) open-ended thinking and planning; (b) line-marking; (c) line-drawing; and, (d) life-event listing. Results showed a pattern of correlations suggesting only borderline comparability. Same-session retesting of (a), (b), and (c) revealed relatively high correlations, with the exception of open-ended future planning. Based on these data, caution is advised when selecting a procedure to assess future extension.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008875:Middle Aged