ABSTRACT
The Argumentativeness (ARG) Scale was developed in a series of factor-analytic studies. Forty-five items were written to assess the two components of argumentativeness as well as the tendency to be verbally aggressive. People self-report their own argumentativeness by responding to 20 items using Likert-type scales that range from almost never true to almost always true. Infante and Rancer provided evidence of convergent, concurrent, and discriminant validity. The ARG Scale has enjoyed a good deal of attention in the literature. Argumentativeness has been equated with employee satisfaction and favorable organizational outcomes. Dowling and Flint noted that the term argument carries relational overtones, whereas the term issues is content bound. Indeed, the pervasive use of this measure is indicative of its usefulness in the investigation of personality constructs in communication research.
