Reply to Martin (2015): Why our conclusions hold

Abstract

We (Heintz and Ruch 2015, An examination of the convergence between the conceptualization and the measurement of humor styles: A study of the construct validity of the Humor Styles Questionnaire. Humor: International Journal of Humor Research 28. 611–633) pointed to a lack of convergence between the conceptualization of humor styles and how they are measured with the HSQ (i. e. the Humor Styles Questionnaire and recommended adjusting the model of the humor styles or alternatively the HSQ. The reply (Martin 2015, On the challenges of measuring humor styles: Response to Heintz and Ruch. Humor: International Journal of Humor Research 28. 635–639) suggested that our study could be methodologically flawed, thereby limiting the conclusions that can be drawn. In the present reply, we discuss each of these criticisms and demonstrate that these are likely unfounded and do not influence our results and conclusions. Thus we still suggest that the gap between the conceptualization and the measurement of humor styles should be closed to improve the construct validity of the HSQ. This would allow interpreting the manifold findings with the HSQ and deriving hypotheses for future studies based on the humor style constructs.