17-item Grit and Ambition Scale
Measures an individual's perseverance and passion for long-term goals, alongside their ambition.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The 17-item Grit and Ambition Scale was developed by Angela L. Duckworth, Christopher Peterson, Michael D. Matthews, & Dennis R. Kelly (2007). It is designed to measure Grit and Ambition. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 17 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Consistency of Interest, Perseverance of Effort, Ambition.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Consistency of Interest | 3,5,7,9,10,16 | 6 |
| Perseverance of Effort | 2,6,8,11,14,17 | 6 |
| Ambition | 1,4,12,13,15 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Not like me at all, 2 = Not much like me, 3 = Somewhat like me, 4 = Mostly like me, 5 = Very much like me.
The scale includes 7 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 1 to 5. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Grit/Ambition: 1 – 2
- Moderate Grit/Ambition: 2 – 3
- High Grit/Ambition: 3 – 5
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha ranges from 0.77 to 0.85 for the subscales.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.