Barratt Impulsivity Scale

The Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS) is one of the oldest and most widely used self-administered impulsivity tests. the BIS-11 (1995) is the most recent version of the test.

History
It was first developed in 1959 and was based on a unidimensional model of impulsiveness which included it as a part of a larger groups of personality pre-dispositions such as extraversion, sensation seeking, and a lack of inhibitory behavioural controls.

Further research led Barratt to classify impulsivity in three main aspects: motor (acting without thinking), cognitive (quick decisions), and non-planning (present orientation).

TimeLine:

1959 BIS-1

1995 BIS-11

Validity
Patton et al. (1995) report internal consistency coefficients for the BIS-11 total score that range from 0.79 to 0.83 for separate populations of under-graduates, substance-abuse patients, general psychiatric patients, and prison inmates.