The brief mind wandering three-factor scale (BMW-3)

• Verfasst von: Schubert, Anna-Lena [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Frischkorn, Gidon T. [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Sadus, Kathrin [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Welhaf, Matthew S. [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Kane, Michael J. [VerfasserIn]
• Verfasst von: Rummel, Jan [VerfasserIn]
• Titel: The brief mind wandering three-factor scale (BMW-3)
• Verf.angabe: Anna-Lena Schubert, Gidon T. Frischkorn, Kathrin Sadus, Matthew S. Welhaf, Michael J. Kane, Jan Rummel
• E-Jahr: 2024
• Jahr: 11 September 2024
• Umfang: 25 S.
• Illustrationen: Illustrationen
• Fussnoten: Gesehen am 28.02.2025
• Titel Quelle: Enthalten in: Behavior research methods
• Ort Quelle: New York, NY : Springer, 2005
• Jahr Quelle: 2024
• Band/Heft Quelle: 56(2024), 8, Seite 8720-8744
• ISSN Quelle: 1554-3528
• DOI: doi:10.3758/s13428-024-02500-6
• Datenträger: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: eng
• Sach-SW: Measurement
• Sach-SW: Mind wandering
• Sach-SW: Questionnaire
• Sach-SW: Task-unrelated thought
• K10plus-PPN: 1918782164

Abstract

In recent years, researchers from different fields have become increasingly interested in measuring individual differences in mind wandering as a psychological trait. Although there are several questionnaires that allow for an assessment of people’s perceptions of their mind wandering experiences, they either define mind wandering in a very broad sense or do not sufficiently separate different aspects of mind wandering. Here, we introduce the Brief Mind Wandering Three-Factor Scale (BMW-3), a 12-item questionnaire available in German and English. The BMW-3 conceptualizes mind wandering as task-unrelated thought and measures three dimensions of mind wandering: unintentional mind wandering, intentional mind wandering, and meta-awareness of mind wandering. Based on results from 1038 participants (823 German speakers, 215 English speakers), we found support for the proposed three-factorial structure of mind wandering and for scalar measurement invariance of the German and English versions. All subscales showed good internal consistencies and moderate to high test-retest correlations and thus provide an effective assessment of individual differences in mind wandering. Moreover, the BMW-3 showed good convergent validity when compared to existing retrospective measures of mind wandering and mindfulness and was related to conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness as well as self-reported attentional control. Lastly, it predicted the propensity for mind wandering inside and outside the lab (as assessed by in-the-moment experience sampling), the frequency of experiencing depressive symptoms, and the use of functional and dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies. All in all, the BMW-3 provides a brief, reliable, and valid assessment of mind wandering for basic and clinical research.