Scale Overview
The Tennessee Self-Concept Scale – TSCS was developed by William H. Fitts (1965). It is designed to measure Self-concept. The scale is intended for use with Individuals aged 12 to 68.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 10 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Personal Self, Social Self, Moral-Ethical Self.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Personal Self |
1,2,4,8 |
4 |
| Social Self |
3,5,6,9 |
4 |
| Moral-Ethical Self |
7,10 |
2 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Completely False, 2 = Mostly False, 3 = Partly False and Partly True, 4 = Mostly True, 5 = Completely True.
The scale includes 3 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 10 to 50. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Self-Concept: 10 – 25
- Moderate Self-Concept: 26 – 37
- High Self-Concept: 38 – 50
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.91.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.