Description

The Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE) is a self-report tool designed to assess an individual’s positive and negative experiences in various everyday situations. The SPANE consists of 12 items divided into two subscales: one measuring positive experiences (6 items) and the other measuring negative experiences (6 items). The scale covers emotions such as joy, pleasure, anxiety, and sadness, allowing respondents to describe their overall sense of well-being.

Analysis and Use of Data

The SPANE is used to evaluate emotional experiences in different contexts. Participants rate each statement on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Never, 5 = Very often). The total score is derived from summing the positive and negative experience scores, with positive experiences being added and negative experiences being subtracted. This provides a clear picture of an individual’s emotional state, reflecting both positive and negative experiences.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the SPANE is to measure an individual’s general emotional experiences over a short period, offering an overall score that can be used to assess emotional well-being. The SPANE is useful in research, clinical evaluations, and self-improvement programs to track emotions and emotional well-being.

Scoring

The overall score ranges from -24 to +24, with higher scores indicating more positive experiences compared to negative ones. Positive experiences are scored from 6 to 30, and negative experiences from -6 to -30. The final net score is calculated by subtracting the negative scores from the positive ones, providing a comprehensive view of the emotional state.

Bibliography

Diener, E., Wirtz, D., Tov, W., Kim-Prieto, C., Choi, D. W., Oishi, S., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2010). New well-being measures: Short scales to assess flourishing and positive and negative feelings. Social Indicators Research, 97(2), 143-156.

Suh, E. M., & Diener, E. (1999). The role of domain satisfaction in assessing subjective well-being and overall life satisfaction. Journal of Economic Psychology, 20(3), 401-405.

Diener, E. (2009). Assessing well-being: The collected works of Ed Diener. Springer.