Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale (Piers-Harris)
An 80-item self-report questionnaire designed to assess self-concept and self-esteem in children and adolescents.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale (Piers-Harris) was developed by Ellen V. Piers, Ph.D. and Dale B. Harris, Ph.D. (1969). It is designed to measure Self-Concept. The scale is intended for use with Children and adolescents (ages 7-18).
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 80 items organized into 6 factors/subscales: Behavioral Adjustment, Intellectual and School Status, Physical Appearance and Attributes, Freedom from Anxiety, Popularity, Happiness and Satisfaction.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Behavioral Adjustment | 12,13,14,17,18,22,25,32,34,35,38,48,56,59,62,72,76,78,80 | 19 |
| Intellectual and School Status | 5,9,16,19,21,23,24,26,30,31,42,45,53,66,70 | 15 |
| Physical Appearance and Attributes | 8,15,29,41,54,60,63,64,65,73 | 10 |
| Freedom from Anxiety | 6,7,10,20,28,37,44,47,55,61,68,74,75,79 | 14 |
| Popularity | 1,3,11,27,33,40,46,49,51,57,58,67,69,71,77 | 15 |
| Happiness and Satisfaction | 2,4,36,39,43,50,52 | 7 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a dichotomous Yes/No format.
The scale includes 44 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 80. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Self-Concept: 0 – 39
- Average Self-Concept: 40 – 60
- High Self-Concept: 61 – 80
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha typically ranges from .88 to .93 for the total score..
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.