Cowart–Pollack Scale of Sexual Experience – CPSSE
Measures the level of heterosexual sexual experience in individuals based on a Guttman-scaled sequence of behaviors.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Cowart–Pollack Scale of Sexual Experience – CPSSE was developed by Debra Cowart-Steckler, Robert H. Pollack (1984). It is designed to measure Sexual experience. The scale is intended for use with College-aged individuals (18 to 21).
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 61 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Male Scale, Female Scale.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Male Scale | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31 | 31 |
| Female Scale | 32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61 | 30 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a dichotomous Yes/No format.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.85 – 0.88.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.