RISIKO Risk Choice

On the basis of its features as an objective personality test the risk choice behavior is considerably more tamper-resistant than a questionnaire test.

Application
Assessment of general readiness to take risks. 

Theoretical background
Based on the Risk Choice model of Atkinson (1957) and psychological research into the selection of levels of challenge, the test measures an individual’s overall readiness to incur risk by assessing his or her achievement motivation.

Administration
A green ball moves about the screen, undergoing unpredictable changes in direction. The respondent is instructed to use the control lever on the response panel to draw a circle which encloses the green ball and to keep the ball “trapped” inside the circle. As long as the ball remains within the circle the respondent scores points. The aim is to achieve as high a score as possible. The maximum obtainable score depends on the radius of the cir-cle; the respondent selects this himself before each run.
The test is made up of four test phases, with each phase consisting of five runs. The test is carried out under different conditions in the four phases. In the first phase the green dot moves slowly, in the second phase it is fast, in the third phase control of the circle is ro-tated anti-clockwise by 90°, and in the fourth phase the conditions of the first three phases occur apparently at random.

Test forms
There is one test form.

Scoring
The main variables scored are readiness to take risks, total number of points, efficiency, and standard deviation of the radius. The additional variables measured are ideal radius, radius in test 4, and average points in test 4. The supplementary variable adjustment of circle radius is also available. Test results are given in the form of raw scores and percen-tile rankings.

Reliability
Because of the method of scoring it is not feasible to calculate the internal consistency.  The performance aspect of the RISIKO yields a retest reliability over a period of 6 weeks of 0.70.

Validity
Initial analysis of correlation statistics indicates that the RISIKO has both convergent and discriminant validity. In addition the test has good criterion validity for the identification of the extreme group of drivers who have committed alcohol-related offences. Testing carried out with a sample of 214 drivers who had committed alcohol-related offences and twinned subjects from the norm sample resulted in a validity of 0.658 and a correct classification rate of 77 %.

Norms
The norm sample consists of N=451 individuals (219 men, 232 women; age range 16-91). The data were collected in 2004 in the research laboratory of the Dr. G. Schuhfried GmbH.