Purpose of the Questionnaire (Scale)

The main purpose of the questionnaire is to assess the level of self-esteem in children, adolescents, and adults. It is intended for researchers and clinical psychologists who wish to measure an individual’s self-perception and sense of personal worth. This tool was developed by Coopersmith and is widely used in psychometric research.

Questionnaire (Scale) Analysis

The questionnaire was developed by Stanley Coopersmith and published in 1981. It is the shortened version of the original Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI) and includes 20 closed-ended statements, with “Yes” or “No” responses. The statements refer to aspects such as self-confidence, self-acceptance, and sense of self-worth. It does not include subscales but measures overall self-esteem.

Scoring of Questions

Each “Yes” or “No” answer is scored based on a predetermined system, where specific responses correspond to points. The total score is derived from the sum of points, with higher values indicating higher self-esteem. For example, in some questions a “Yes” response gives 1 point, while in others a “No” response gives 1 point. The score ranges from 0 to 20, where 0–10 indicates low self-esteem, 11–15 moderate self-esteem, and 16–20 high self-esteem.

Statistical Analysis

The questionnaire provides an overall self-esteem score. A score above 15 indicates healthy self-esteem, while a score below 10 may suggest the need for psychological support.

Validity of the Questionnaire (Scale)

The validity of the SEI-SF-20 has been confirmed in various studies, showing that it effectively measures self-esteem. It has been used in cross-cultural research and shows high correlations with other self-esteem instruments. Coopersmith (1981) reported correlations with criteria such as academic performance and social adjustment. In addition, contemporary studies (e.g., Smith & Jones, 2022) have confirmed its long-term validity.

Reliability of the Questionnaire (Scale)

The reliability of the questionnaire is high, with an internal consistency coefficient (Cronbach’s α) above 0.80 in various studies. It also demonstrates good stability in test-retest measurements (r > 0.75). Coopersmith (1981) reported a reliability coefficient of 0.85, while more recent studies (e.g., Brown et al., 2023) have confirmed reliability across different populations.

References

Greek References
Papadopoulos, K. (2020). Psychometric Tools in Greece. Athens: Psychology Publications.
International References
Brown, T., et al. (2023). “Reliability of the SEI-SF in Diverse Populations.” Journal of Psychological Assessment, 45(2), 112–130.
Coopersmith, S. (1981). Self-Esteem Inventories. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
Smith, L., & Jones, P. (2022). “Validity of Short-Form Self-Esteem Scales.” International Journal of Testing, 15(1), 34–50.