Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory – PFAI
A multidimensional self-report measure assessing an individual's cognitive appraisals of the threat of failure.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory – PFAI was developed by David E. Conroy (2001). It is designed to measure Fear of Failure. The scale is intended for use with Adolescents and adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 25 items organized into 5 factors/subscales: Fear of Experiencing Shame & Embarrassment, Fear of Devaluing One’s Self-Estimate, Fear of Having an Uncertain Future, Fear of Important Others Losing Interest, Fear of Upsetting Important Others.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Fear of Experiencing Shame & Embarrassment | 10,15,18,20,22,24,25 | 7 |
| Fear of Devaluing One's Self-Estimate | 1,4,7,16 | 4 |
| Fear of Having an Uncertain Future | 2,5,8,12 | 4 |
| Fear of Important Others Losing Interest | 11,13,17,21,23 | 5 |
| Fear of Upsetting Important Others | 3,6,9,14,19 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: -2 = Do not believe at all, -1 = Believe a little bit of the time, 0 = Believe some of the time, 1 = Believe most of the time, 2 = Believe 100% of the time.
The scale includes 1 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from -50 to 50. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Fear of Failure: -50 – -16
- Moderate Fear of Failure: -15 – 15
- High Fear of Failure: 16 – 50
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of FSE (.80), FDSE (.74), FUF (.80), FIOLI (.80), FUIO (.78).
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.