The need for quantification. Theoretical considerations of a construct and evaluation of a scale for its measurement.

There are growing possibilities to quantify aspects of life, and an increasing number of individuals use smartphone applications for such quantifications. This leads us to assume that there is a need for quantification (NfQ). We define NfC as an individual's need to grasp numbers about their body, their experience and behavior, and self-related aspects of the individual's surroundings. In contrast to lifelogging or self-tracking, NfQ focuses on the motivational (and more general) level. In two studies with 375 and 216 participants, we developed and evaluated the 7-item NfQ scale to assess individual differences in NfQ. In both samples, the scale was unidimensional and highly reliable. In Study 1, the NfQ scale correlated with quantification-related behavior in different areas of life (documentation of sports activities, weight control, comparing prices, preference for feedback in form of grades/numbers), pointing to the breadth of NfQ-related behaviors. NfQ correlated positively with the need for cognitive closure and external control convictions but negatively with self-efficacy. This pattern of results suggests that NfQ-related behavior compensates for deficient control beliefs and is part of a reactive coping strategy to reduce tension in the face of ambivalence and hardly controllable situations. The NfQ scale might be a promising tool in education, sports training, health, medical and psychotherapeutic interventions when high NfQ can be used to increase commitment and motivation.