Rish, S.A, Wright, B.J. and Bennett, P.C.  <br/><br/>
Development of the voluntary simplicity engagement scale: Measuring low-consumption lifestyles  

 - Journal of Consumer Policy   
 - 43(2), Jun, 2020: p. 295-313 
<br/><br/> Those who choose to reduce their material consumption to seek satisfaction in non-material ways are said to be living a life of voluntary simplicity. This lifestyle has potentially important implications for both environmental sustainability and individual well-being. In research, voluntary simplifiers are typically identified informally or by using measurement tools that may not reflect current simplifying practices. The aim of the current work was to develop a measure of voluntary simplicity based on the practices of contemporary simplifiers. Using a mixed-methods approach, qualitative interviews with 16 self-identified voluntary simplifiers were used to develop a questionnaire that was then administered to a sample of 423 participants. The questionnaire was refined statistically, resulting in the development of the 21-item Voluntary Simplicity Engagement Scale. The scale displays sound psychometric qualities and, with additional validation, should serve as a useful addition to the study of voluntary simplicity.- Reproduced <br/><br/> 
<br/><br/><label>Subjects--Topical Terms: </label><br/>Economics -- Sociological aspects, Low-consumption lifestyles, voluntary simplicity. Scale development. Mixed methods. Measurement