The reliability and validity of Bem and Allen's measure of cross-situational consistency

The reliability and validity of Bem and Allen's (1974) technique of measuring cross-situational consistency was investigated. Subjects answered questions concerning consistency in academic behavior and general consistency and filled out Snyder's (1974) Self-monitoring Scale twice. Whereas the test-retest reliability of the Bem and Allen type questions was quite low, the reliability of the Self-monitoring Scale was relatively high. The correlation between self-reports of variability in academic behaviour and actual variability in grades was significant, while the correlation between self-reports of general consistency and self-monitoring scores was not. The problem of using a single-item technique to measure consistency was discussed.