Personal Growth Initiative Scale II (PGIS-II)

Background:

The Personal Growth Initiative Scale-II (PGIS-II), includes 4 subscales: Readiness for Change, Planfulness, Using Resources, and Intentional Behavior.

Psychometrics:

A study into the psychometric evaluation of the PGIS-II (Robitschek et al., 2012) provides exploratory and confirmatory evidence for the 4-factor structure, strong internal consistency for the subscales and overall score across samples, acceptable temporal stability at all assessed intervals, and concurrent and discriminant validity of the PGIS-II.

Author of Tool:

Robitschek, C., Ashton, M. W., Spering, C. C., Geiger, N., Byers, D., Schotts, G. C., & Thoen, M

Key references:

Robitschek, C., Ashton, M. W., Spering, C. C., Geiger, N., Byers, D., Schotts, G. C., & Thoen, M. (2012). Development and psychometric properties of the Personal Growth Initiative Scale – II. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 59, 274-287. doi: 10.1037/a0027310

Primary use / Purpose:

The PGIS-II is a revised multidimensional measure of the complex processes of personal growth initiative, which can be described as a person’s active and intentional involvement in changing and developing as a person.

Personal Growth Initiative Scale – II ©

Christine Robitschek, Ph.D., 2008

For each statement, please mark how much you agree or disagree with that statement. Use the following scale:

  • 0 = Disagree Strongly
  • 1 = Disagree Somewhat
  • 2 = Disagree a Little
  • 3 = Agree a Little
  • 4 = Agree Somewhat
  • 5 = Agree Strongly
I set realistic goals for what I want to change about myself. 0 1 2 3 4 5
I can tell when I am ready to make specific changes in myself. 0 1 2 3 4 5
I know how to make a realistic plan in order to change myself. 0 1 2 3 4 5
I take every opportunity to grow as it comes up. 0 1 2 3 4 5
When I try to change myself, I make a realistic plan for my personal growth. 0 1 2 3 4 5
I ask for help when I try to change myself. 0 1 2 3 4 5
I actively work to improve myself. 0 1 2 3 4 5
I figure out what I need to change about myself. 0 1 2 3 4 5
I am constantly trying to grow as a person. 0 1 2 3 4 5
I know how to set realistic goals to make changes in myself. 0 1 2 3 4 5
I know when I need to make a specific change in myself. 0 1 2 3 4 5
I use resources when I try to grow. 0 1 2 3 4 5
I know steps I can take to make intentional changes in myself. 0 1 2 3 4 5
I actively seek out help when I try to change myself. 0 1 2 3 4 5
I look for opportunities to grow as a person. 0 1 2 3 4 5
I know when it’s time to change specific things about myself. 0 1 2 3 4 5

WARNING. This work is protected by copyright and is intended for free use in research, educational, and clinical purposes. This work may not be used for commercial purposes.

Personal Growth Initiative Scale – II ©

Dr. Christine Robitschek, 2008

Scoring Information

There are four subscales on the PGIS-II: Readiness for Change, Planfulness, Using Resources, and Intentional Behavior. A Total Mean Score also can be calculated.

General information:

  • All items are positively worded.
  • To calculate the subscale scores, sum the item responses for that subscale and divide by the number of items in the subscale.
    • Thus, a subscale score is the mean response value for items on that subscale.
  • The Total Mean Score is calculated by summing the subscale scores and then dividing by 4 (i.e., the number of subscales).
    • This provides a mean subscale score and reduces weighted effects of the different number of items on the subscales.

Subscales and their items (numbers in parentheses are item numbers from the PGIS-II as it is administered):

Readiness for Change

(2) I can tell when I am ready to make specific changes in myself.

(8) I figure out what I need to change about myself.

(11) I know when I need to make a specific change in myself.

(16) I know when it’s time to change specific things about myself.

Planfulness

(1) I set realistic goals for what I want to change about myself.

(3) I know how to make a realistic plan in order to change myself.

(5) When I try to change myself, I make a realistic plan for my personal growth.

(10) I know how to set realistic goals to make changes in myself.

(13) I know steps I can take to make intentional changes in myself.

Using Resources

(6) I ask for help when I try to change myself.

(12) I use resources when I try to grow.

(14) I actively seek out help when I try to change myself.

Intentional Behavior

(4) I take every opportunity to grow as it comes up.

(7) I actively work to improve myself.

(9) I am constantly trying to grow as a person.

(15) I look for opportunities to grow as a person.

x