Personal Competence Scale – PCS
Measures an individual's sense of personal efficacy, self-confidence, and perceived control over their life outcomes.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Personal Competence Scale – PCS was developed by Angus Campbell, Philip E. Converse, Warren E. Miller, Donald E. Stokes (1960). It is designed to measure Personal Efficacy. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 8 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Disagree a lot, 2 = Disagree a little, 3 = Agree a little, 4 = Agree a lot.
The scale includes 4 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 8 to 32. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Personal Competence: 8 – 16
- Moderate Personal Competence: 17 – 24
- High Personal Competence: 25 – 32
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 3 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.