Basic Psychological Needs Scales – Chinese Version

Description

In the field of motivation research, the Self-Determination Theory (SDT), proposed by American psychologists Deci and Ryan in the 1980s, is quite distinctive. Unlike the simple dichotomy of traditional external and internal motivation, Self-Determination Theory posits that external and internal motivations actually exist on the same continuum, and that both types of motivation are not stable but are in a constant state of transformation. Positive social or cultural factors can help convert external motivation into internal motivation, while negative social or cultural factors may turn internal motivation into external motivation. Deci and Ryan believe that the key to this transformation of motivation lies in whether an individual’s needs are satisfied, which consist of three basic psychological needs: competence, autonomy, and relatedness. Competence refers to an individual’s sense of being capable and having the opportunity to exercise and demonstrate their abilities in interaction with the environment. Autonomy implies that individuals perceive their actions as stemming from their own will and decisions. Relatedness indicates that individuals feel cared for by others and have a sense of belonging and security with other individuals and groups. Deci and Ryan assert that the fulfillment of these three needs is the source of individuals’ positive and optimistic development as well as psychological health, and is also the key element that promotes the conversion of external motivation to internal motivation. Since the first international conference on Self-Determination Theory was held in 1999, the theory has rapidly expanded its influence worldwide. The fourth international academic conference held in May 2010 had numerous participants, with reported research topics spanning various fields of social life, demonstrating the theory’s tremendous impact.

Authors and Contact Email

Deci and Ryan (Email information not available)

Purpose

The purpose of the Basic Psychological Needs Scales (BPNS) is to assess the fulfillment of basic psychological needs among individuals, particularly in Chinese elementary and middle school students.

Test Year

Test year information not available.

Administration Method and Scoring

The BPNS consists of 21 items divided into three subscales: competence需求 (competence need), autonomy需求 (autonomy need), and relatedness需求 (relatedness need). Each subscale comprises 6 to 8 items scored on a scale from 1 (完全不符合 – Not at all true) to 7 (非常符合 – Very true), with 9 items scored in reverse. The scoring method involves converting reverse items, and then calculating the mean score of all items within each subscale. Higher scores indicate a greater degree of fulfillment of basic psychological needs.

Reliability and Validity

Liu Junsheng et al. introduced Gagne’s Basic Psychological Needs Scale (BPNS) and validated its reliability and validity among elementary and middle school students. The results show that the items of the BPNS have good discrimination, with item correlations within their respective subscales ranging from 0.40 to 0.72. The revised Chinese version of the scale conforms to a three-factor structure. The total scale’s Cronbach’s α coefficient is 0.84, while the Cronbach’s α coefficients for the three subscales range from 0.57 to 0.72. The test-retest reliability of the three subscales ranged from 0.68 to 0.83. In conclusion, the Chinese version of the Basic Psychological Needs Scale has good reliability and validity and can be used as a tool for investigating the basic psychological needs of elementary and middle school students in China.

Factors and Subscales

1. 胜任需求 (Competence Need)
2. 自主需求 (Autonomy Need)
3. 归属需求 (Relatedness Need)

Keywords

Self-Determination Theory, Basic Psychological Needs, Motivation, Competence, Autonomy, Relatedness, Reliability, Validity

Items in Chinese

1. 我非常喜欢和我打交道的人
2. 我经常觉得自己没有能力
3. 在生活中我感觉到有压力
4. 了解我的人说我会把事情完成得很好
5. 我与接触过的人都会相处得很融洽
6. 我常常一个人独处，没有太多的社交活动
7. 通常我很乐意表达出自己的想法和观点
8. 最近我有能力去学习有趣的新技能
9. 在日常生活中，我经常不得不做一些别人让我做的事情
10. 我身边的人很关心我
11. 很多时候，我能从自己所做的事情中感受到成就感
12. 在日常生活中与我交往的人常常会考虑我的感受
13. 在日常生活中我没有太多展示自己能力的机会
14. 我没有太多亲近的人
15. 在日常生活中我经常感到我可以做我自己
16. 我周围的人一般不太喜欢我
17. 我经常感到自己能力不足
18. 在生活中，我没有太多机会去决定自己的事情
19. 人们对我都很友好

Items in English

1. I really enjoy interacting with the people around me.
2. I often feel that I am not capable.
3. I feel pressured in my life.
4. Those who know me say that I do a great job.
5. I get along well with everyone I interact with.
6. I often spend time alone without much social activity.
7. I usually feel eager to express my thoughts and opinions.
8. Recently, I have the ability to learn interesting new skills.
9. In daily life, I often have to do things that others ask me to do.
10. The people around me care about me.
11. Often, I can feel a sense of achievement from what I do.
12. People I interact with daily consider my feelings.
13. In daily life, I don’t have many opportunities to showcase my abilities.
14. I don’t have many close friends.
15. In daily life, I often feel that I can be myself.
16. Generally, people around me don’t like me very much.
17. I often feel inadequate in my abilities.
18. In life, I don’t have many opportunities to make my own decisions.
19. People are generally friendly to me.

References

信息不详