Scale Overview
The Impostorism Scale was developed by Mark R. Leary, Kate Patton, Ashley Orlando, & Wendy W. Funk (2000). It is designed to measure Impostor Phenomenon. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 7 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.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 7 to 35. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Impostorism: 7 – 14
- Moderate Impostorism: 15 – 27
- High Impostorism: 28 – 35
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of High internal consistency (typically Cronbach's alpha > .80).
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.