Questionnaire of Sequential Influence Techniques in Romantic Relationships - description of the method and individual predictors of the tendency to use sequential influence techniques in close relationships

The paper presents the construction procedure of the Questionnaire of Sequential Influence Techniques in Romantic Relationships, analysis of its factorial structure and theoretical validity. Initial pool of items were derived from free statements collected from males and females engaged in close romantic relationships (n = 874). In the experimental version of the questionnaire 35 items were used which measure 10 sequentional compliance techniques. The experimental version of the questionnaire was used in a study conducted on a group of 654 participants (351 women and 303 men) married or staying in informal close relationships. Participants were highly diverse with respect of age, education and performed job. Exploratory factor analysis resulted in extraction of six factors, descriptive of six compliance gaining techniques: 'a strategical sequence of requests' (door-in-the-face, foot-in-the-door, and foot-in-the-mouth), 'any help counts', 'fait accompli', 'see-saw of emotion', 'good mood and low ball' and 'scenarious of imagination'. Subscales of the questionnaire yielded satisfactory reliability. Correlations of subscales of the questionnaire with masculinity, Machiavellianism, self-monitoring, and directivity confirmed theoretical validity of this new method.