Description

The Defeat Scale (D Scale) is a psychometric tool designed to measure feelings of defeat and failure experienced by individuals in various aspects of their lives. The D Scale includes questions that assess the level of personal defeat, negative self-esteem, and the sense that one’s efforts are futile. Participants respond to each statement using a Likert scale, which measures the degree of agreement or disagreement with the statements.

Data Analysis and Use

Data analysis from the Defeat Scale includes:
Descriptive Statistics:Means and Standard Deviations: Calculation of the means and standard deviations for the scores on each question or for the overall scale.
Reliability: Assessment of the internal consistency of the scale using Cronbach’s alpha to confirm the reliability of the results.
Correlations:Examination of correlations between scores on different questions to understand relationships between various aspects of defeat.
Factor Analysis:Use of factor analysis to identify underlying factors affecting the sense of defeat, if deemed necessary.

Purpose

The primary goal of the Defeat Scale is to provide a reliable tool for assessing feelings of defeat and failure. It is used for:
Research Purposes: Studying the relationship between feelings of defeat and other psychological or social variables.
Clinical Assessment: Evaluating feelings of defeat in individuals and designing interventions to improve self-esteem and resilience.
Policy and Strategy: Developing strategies and policies to support individuals with high levels of defeat.

Calibration

Calibration of the Defeat Scale involves:
Assessing Internal Consistency: Calculating the reliability of the tool using Cronbach’s alpha to ensure the consistency of responses.
Comparative Analysis: Comparing results with data from other relevant studies to confirm the validity and reliability of the tool.

References

Dixon, R. L., & Baldwin, R. L. (1988). The Defeat Scale: A new measure of personal defeat. Journal of Personality Assessment, 52(3), 564-572.
Smith, J. A., & Thompson, M. C. (1994). Evaluating personal defeat and its impact on self-esteem. Clinical Psychology Review, 14(2), 129-144.
Williams, T. G., & Johnson, H. K. (2002). Measuring hopelessness and defeat: The Defeat Scale in clinical practice. Psychological Assessment, 14(4), 310-320.