Measuring Parasocial Processing: An Easily-Applicable Short Version of the Parasocial Interaction-Process Scales

Research on parasocial phenomena is thriving, and parasocial processing emerged as a key concept in the wake of this trend. In this paper, we derive and systematically test a shortened version of the central measure of parasocial processing, the PSI-Process Scales. The theoretically grounded Parasocial Processing Short Scale (PP-SS) consists of only nine items. The scale was systematically developed and validated in two preregistered empirical studies using adult online panels from the UK: a one-factorial experiment (n = 258) and a larger survey study (n = 720), both featuring a range of different personae and demographically diverse samples. Both studies confirm the PP-SS’ good psychometric quality and validity within the concept’s nomological network, as well as the scale’s invariance across different user groups and personae. In summary, the PP-SS offers scholars a concise and easily applicable instrument that reliably and validly captures parasocial processing.