Some methodological issues in the assessment of anxiety

Based in a construct-oriented approach, this article focuses on methodological issues that raise when anxiety is considered from the three-system response theory. Research on this topic is briefly reviewed and some consequences for anxiety assessment are derived. Concerning the issue of response fractioning, no conclusive statements can be made before several methodological problems in research planning and implementation be seriously taken into account. Finally, some problems related to the main assessment strategies of anxiety are revised. The conclusion is clear: no strategy can be entitled as the "strategy of choice", just as no response system is a priori "superior" to the other systems. Multiple sources of information as well as multiple assessment strategies clearly appear as the best frame for research and application.