Rosenberg Self-Esteem Test

Evaluating individual self-esteem

The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) is a widely used self-report instrument for evaluating individual self-esteem. Developed by sociologist Morris Rosenberg in the 1960s, it is a tool that measures self-worth or self-acceptance through a series of statements related to overall feelings about oneself. The scale is concise, consisting of only ten items, making it both accessible and easy to administer.

Structure

The RSES uses a Likert scale format, with items answered on a four-point scale ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. The statements are a mix of positively and negatively worded items, designed to cover both sides of self-esteem: positive self-perception and self-deprecation. This balance helps to mitigate the effects of response biases, such as the tendency for individuals to answer in socially desirable ways.

Items

The statements in the RSES address various aspects of personal self-regard, such as feelings of respect and acceptance for oneself. Examples of items include “On the whole, I am satisfied with myself,” and “I feel that I have a number of good qualities,” which are positively worded, and “At times I think I am no good at all,” and “I feel I do not have much to be proud of,” which are negatively worded.

Scoring

Scores on the RSES range from 10 to 40, with higher scores indicating higher self-esteem. The scoring system accounts for the reversed items by inversely coding responses to negative statements. Typically, a score below 15 may indicate low self-esteem, scores between 15 and 25 suggest moderate self-esteem, and scores above 25 are considered indicative of high self-esteem.

Reliability and Validity

The RSES has been subjected to extensive reliability and validity testing. It has demonstrated good reliability (i.e., consistency of results over time) and validity (i.e., it measures what it claims to measure) across various populations and cultural contexts, making it a standard measure in psychological research and clinical assessment.

Applications

The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale is used in a variety of settings, including clinical psychology, social science research, and educational environments. It helps in assessing the self-esteem levels of individuals or groups and is often employed in studies exploring the relationship between self-esteem and other psychological or social variables.

Despite its widespread use, researchers and practitioners acknowledge that self-esteem is a complex construct, and the RSES is best used in conjunction with other measures and assessments to gain a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s self-regard.

Overall, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale remains a fundamental tool for psychological assessment, providing a quick, reliable, and valid measure of self-esteem that has contributed significantly to the study of self-concept and personality research.