Psychometric properties of non-specific electrodermal response frequency for a sample of male students

Abstract

In the present study data on the frequency of non-specific electrodermal responses (NSRs) are presented for a large and, with regard to sex, age and educational level, homogeneous sample of male students ( n = 590). These data were obtained in 9 independent experiments in which NSRs were recorded under equivalent conditions. NSRs were scored as skin conductance changes greater than 0.02 μSiemens. A recording period of 5 min prior to experimental manipulations was chosen. A systematic comparison between the 9 studies, the distribution of NSRs for the total sample, as well as descriptive data for stabile and labile subgroups are presented. For 213 subjects NSR-frequency was recorded twice, with a retest interval of one day. For these subjects retest analyses and data on the degree of stability of the classification into stabile and labile groups are also presented. In the discussion the necessity to develop standardized scoring criteria for NSRs is emphasized.