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 (18-21 years).
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.
Total scores range from 0 to 31. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Sexual Experience: 0 – 10
- Moderate Sexual Experience: 11 – 20
- High Sexual Experience: 21 – 31
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Coefficient of reproducibility: .88 (Male), .87 (Female).
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.