We are asking your help in a scientific study; it will take 15 to 20 minutes to complete. Below are a number of statements which may or may not describe you, your feelings or your behavior. Please read each statement carefully and select an answer that corresponds to the choices presented below. There are no right or wrong responses. If you want to know how your responses compare to those of other people who complete the scale, contact Dr. Louis Penner at penner@chuma1.cas.usf.edu.
1. If a good friend of mine wanted to injure an enemy of theirs, it would be my duty to try to stop them.
1. Strongly Agree 2. Agree 3. No Opinion 4. Disagree 5. Strongly Disagree
2. I wouldn't feel that I had to do my part in a group project if everyone else was lazy.
3. When people are nasty to me, I feel very little responsibility to treat them well.
4. I would feel less bothered about leaving litter in a dirty park than in a clean one.
5. No matter what a person has done to us, there is no excuse for taking advantage of them.
6. Occasionally in life people find themselves in a situation in which they have absolutely no control over what they do to others.
7. With the pressure for grades and the widespread cheating in school nowadays, the individual who cheats occasionally is not really as much at fault.
8. It doesn't make much sense to be very concerned about how we act when we are sick and feeling miserable.
9. If I broke a machine through mishandling, I would feel less guilty if it was already damaged before I used it.
10. When you have a job to do, it is impossible to look out for everybody's best interest.
11. I often have tender, concerned feelings for people less fortunate than me.
12. I sometimes find it difficult to see things from the "other person's" point of view.
13. In emergency situations, I feel apprehensive and ill-at-ease.
14. When I see someone being taken advantage of, I feel kind of protective towards them.
15. I sometimes try to understand my friends better by imagining how things look from their perspective.
16. Other people's misfortunes do not usually disturb me a great deal.
17. If I'm sure I'm right about something, I don't waste much time listening to other people's arguments.
18. When I see someone being treated unfairly, I sometimes don't feel very much pity for them.
19. I am usually pretty effective in dealing with emergencies.
20. I am often quite touched by things that I see happen.
21. I believe that there are two sides to every question and try to look at them both.
22. I would describe myself as a pretty softhearted person.
23. I tend to lose control during emergencies.
24. When I'm upset at someone, I usually try to "put myself in their shoes" for a while.
25. When I see someone who badly needs help in an emergency, I go to pieces.
26. My decisions are usually based on my concern for other people.
27. My decisions are usually based on what is the most fair and just way to act.
28. I choose alternatives that are intended to meet everybody's needs.
29. I choose a course of action that maximizes the help other people receive.
30. I choose a course of action that considers the rights of all people involved.
31. My decisions are usually based on concern for the welfare of others.
PART 2:
Below are several different actions in which people sometimes engage. Read each of them and decide how frequently you have carried it out in the past. Select an answer that best describes your past behavior.
32. I have given money to a stranger who needed it (or asked me for it).
1. Never 2. Once 3. More than Once 4. Often 5. Very Often
33. I have helped carry a stranger's belongings (e.g., books, parcels, etc.).
34. I have allowed someone to go ahead of me in a line (e.g., supermarket, copying machine, etc.)
35. I have let a neighbor whom I didn't know too well borrow an item of some value (e.g., tools, a dish, etc.).
1. Never 2. Once 3. More than Once
4. Often 5. Very Often
36. I have helped a person who I did not know that well with a school or work assignment when my knowledge was greater than his or hers.
1. Never 2. Once 3. More than Once 4. Often 5. Very Often m
37. I have, before being asked, voluntarily looked after a neighbor's pets or children without being paid for it.
38. I have offered to help a handicapped or elderly stranger across a street.
39. How old are you?
1. Less than 18 years old 2. 19 to 30 years old 3. 31 to 40 years old 4. 41 to 50 years old 5. 51 to 60 years old 6. 61 to 70 years old 7. More than 70 years old
40. Are you male or female?
1. Male 2. Female
41. Which of the following terms best describes your race or ethnic background?
1. Eastern or of Asian ancestry 2. Black or of African ancestry 3. Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish ancestry 4. White or of European ancestry
42. What is your religious preference?
1. Catholic 2. Jewish 3. Muslim 4. Protestant 5. Other 6. No religious preference (Do not answer next question; go to question 44)
43. How religious are you?
1. Not at all 2. Somewhat 3. Very 4. Extremely
44. What is your family's total yearly income?
1. Less than $20,000 2. $21,000 to $30,000 3. $31,000 to $40,000 4. $41,000 to $50,000 5. $51,000 to $60,000 6. $61,000 to $70,000 7. More than $70,000
45. What is the highest level of education you completed?
1. grade school 2. some high school 3. completed high school 4. some college 5. completed college 6. some graduate work 7. completed graduate work
46. Below are several different volunteer activities. If you have engaged in one of them in the last twelve months, please check it. You may check more than one activity.
Worked for a charity or service organization (for example, United Way or Red Cross) Worked for a civic organization (for example, Kiwanis or Rotarians) Worked for a religious organization (for example a church or temple) Did some other kind of volunteer work Did not have time to do any volunteer work this past year (Please submit your survey)
47. How many charities, civic or religious organizations do you currently work for?
None at this time One Two More than two
48. Think about the organization to which you give the most time; how long have you worked for it?
1. less than six months 2. between six months and a year 3. between one and two years 4. between two and three years 5. more than three years
49. How much time do you spend working for this organization?
1. One day a month 2. A few hours each week 3. One day a week 4. More than one day per week
Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. If you would like more information about this scale, you can write me at penner@chuma1.cas.usf.edu. Select Submit Survey now to send your responses to me.