How well can you control where your attention goes?
The Attention Control Scale is a validated self-report questionnaire developed by researchers Douglas Derryberry and Marjorie Reed to measure individual differences in your ability to deliberately control, focus, and shift your attention. The scale assesses your voluntary attentional control—the executive function that helps you manage where your attention goes in daily life, whether you're trying to concentrate on a task, resist distractions, or flexibly switch between different activities.
The ATTC measures two key aspects of attentional control: your capacity to intentionally focus your attention on desired information while resisting distractions (attention focusing), and your capacity to intentionally shift your attention between different tasks or channels of information (attention shifting).
Note: This survey is not a diagnostic tool. It is part of a research study exploring different dimensions of attentional control and how they relate to imagery experiences, including aphantasia.
Instructions: Below are several statements regarding how you typically manage your attention in everyday situations. Please rate each statement on the scale based on how often each experience applies to you:
1 = Almost Never | 2 = Sometimes | 3 = Often | 4 = Always
Think about your typical patterns of attention and respond based on your general experience, not just specific situations. For example, you might rate how often you can easily shift from one task to another, or how frequently you're able to concentrate on a difficult task when there are distractions around you.
What counts as attentional control: The ability to deliberately direct your focus where you want it to go, maintain concentration on chosen tasks despite distractions, and flexibly move your attention between different activities when needed.
What does not count as attentional control: Automatic attention that is captured by loud noises or sudden movements, or situations where your attention naturally stays on something interesting without effort.