1. Self-Esteem Inventories and Research
HUSR 224: Self-Esteem Strategies
Self-Esteem Inventories and Research
Week Four

2. HUSR 224: Self-Esteem Strategies
Agenda
Can self-esteem be measured?
What tools (inventories) are available for use?
What criteria does Branden suggest for measuring self-esteem?

3. Defining Research Constructs
HUSR 224: Self-Esteem Strategies
Defining Research Constructs
Defining “validity”
Is the criterion in the question ‘valid’? That is, does it really measure what we imply that it should?
Defining “reliability”
Would the criterion in the question always produce the same result
(at different times, with different people)

4. Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
HUSR 224: Self-Esteem Strategies
Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
Originally developed to measure adolescents' global feelings of self-worth or self-acceptance
Generally considered the standard against which other measures of self-esteem are compared.
It includes 10 items that are usually scored using a four-point response ranging from strongly disagree to strongly agree.
The items are face valid, and the scale is short and easy and fast to administer.
Extensive and acceptable reliability (internal consistency and test-retest) and validity (convergent and discriminant) information exists for the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
RSE items were to represent a continuum of self-worth statements ranging from statements that are endorsed even by individuals with low self-esteem to statements that are endorsed only by persons with high self-esteem

5. The Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory
HUSR 224: Self-Esteem Strategies
The Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory
Developed through research to assess attitude toward oneself in general, and in specific contexts:
peers
parents
school
personal interests.
It was originally designed for use with children, drawing on items from scales that were previously used by Carl Rogers.
Respondents state whether a set of 50 generally favorable or unfavorable aspects of a person are "like me" or "not like me."
Acceptable reliability (internal consistency and test-retest) and validity (convergent and discriminant) information exists for the Self-Esteem Inventory

6. HUSR 224: Self-Esteem Strategies
Rodin and McAvay
Developed and validated a self-efficacy measure designed to be particularly relevant to older adults that includes the domain of health.
Interpersonal efficacy
dealing with friends and family
instrumental efficacy
finances, safety, productivity
Has a total of eight items.

7. HUSR 224: Self-Esteem Strategies
Froman and Owen
Published a health self-efficacy measure intended for use with high school students.
The 43 item scale has two subscales
Physical Health
Mental Health
Respondents are asked to indicate their confidence in their ability to perform 43 behaviors, such things as "eating a balanced diet", "maintaining friendships", and "telling the truth".

8. Limitations to SE Inventories
HUSR 224: Self-Esteem Strategies
Limitations to SE Inventories
Perhaps the biggest limitation of all measures of self-esteem is their susceptibility to socially desirable responding.
Most measures are self-report, and it is difficult to obtain non-self-report measures of such a personal and subjective construct.
Also, scores tend to be skewed toward high self-esteem, with even the lowest scorers on most tests scoring above the mean and exhibiting fairly high levels of self-esteem
Researchers recently have switched to measuring differences between explicit SE and implicit SE, as measured by automatic responses

9. The Philosophy of Self-Esteem
HUSR 224: Self-Esteem Strategies
The Philosophy of Self-Esteem
Branden, Chapter 12

10. Beliefs About the Self That Support Self-Esteem
HUSR 224: Self-Esteem Strategies
Beliefs About the Self That Support Self-Esteem
No one is here on earth to live up to my expectations
If people treat me discourteously or disrespectfully, it is a reflection on them, not on me
I have a right to make mistakes… that is one of the ways I learn

11. Beliefs About Living Consciously
HUSR 224: Self-Esteem Strategies
Beliefs About Living Consciously
I am better served by correcting my mistakes than by pretending they do not exist
I need to be on the lookout for temptations to evade unpleasant facts; I need to manage my avoidance impulses and not be ruled by them

12. Beliefs About Self-Responsibility
HUSR 224: Self-Esteem Strategies
Beliefs About Self-Responsibility
I am responsible for raising my self-esteem; no one else can give me self-esteem
I accept that no one is coming to make my life right, or save me, or redeem my childhood or rescue me from the consequences of my choices and actions.

13. Beliefs About Living Purposefully
HUSR 224: Self-Esteem Strategies
Beliefs About Living Purposefully
Only I properly can choose the goals and purposes for which I live. No one else can appropriately design my existence
I serve my interests by a high degree of reality checking
My self-esteem is more valuable than any short-term rewards for its betrayal