Enhancing the measurement properties of the Heimler scale of social functioning through extending its response range

This paper presents comparative validation data for the original three-point response range version of the Heimler Scale of Social Functioning (HSSF) and a new five-point response range version. Three samples of one thousand soldiers in the South African National Defence Force were used for this study. Increasing the response range of the HSSF improved the reliability of the scale, but had only a very small impact on the instrument's construct and criterion-related validities. The author concludes that the content validity of the HSSF may be flawed and recommends a revision of the item sample of the instrument.