RELIABILITY, VALIDITY, AND NORMATIVE DATA FOR A SHORT VERSION OF THE UNDERSTANDING OF ALCOHOLISM SCALE

In this psychometric study, the authors evaluated a scale measuring tr eatment staff members' (n = 329) beliefs about the nature and treatmen t of substance abuse problems. This scale, the Short Understanding of Substance Abuse Scale (SUSS), is based on the work of Moyers (1991; T. B. Moyers & W. R. Miller, 1993) and assesses staff members' endorseme nt of disease, psychosocial learning, and eclectic treatment orientati ons. Data presented in this article support the reliability of subscal es that, for ease of administration, have been shortened from T. B. Mo yers and W. R. Miller's original version. Evidence suggests that the S USS has convergent and discriminant validity and is not affected by a yea-saying response bias. SUSS norms for different types of substance abuse treatment staff are presented, and suggestions for further appli cations and improvements of the measure are put forward.