Scale Overview
The Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale – BFNE was developed by Mark R. Leary (1983). It is designed to measure Fear of Negative Evaluation. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 12 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Not at all characteristic of me, 2 = Slightly characteristic of me, 3 = Moderately characteristic of me, 4 = Very characteristic of me, 5 = Extremely characteristic of me.
The scale includes 4 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 12 to 60. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Fear of Negative Evaluation: 12 – 29
- Moderate Fear of Negative Evaluation: 30 – 44
- High Fear of Negative Evaluation: 45 – 60
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.90.
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.