The Tennessee Self-Concept Scale-Second Edition (TSCS-2) (Fitts & Warren, 1996) is one of the most commonly used self-report measures of self-concept and can be used for children and adults. It consists of 100 self-descriptive items and can display what he or she is, does, likes, and feels. The scale is intended to summarize an individual’s feeling of self-worth, the degree to which the self-image is realistic, and whether or not that self-image is an abnormal one. As well as providing an overall assessment of self-esteem. To administer this form, it is recommended to have a master’s degree counseling (also known as a Level B assessment.) The assessment is designed to score 15 different subscales and ultimately one total Self-Concept score.
This assessment is designed for anyone between the ages of 7-90 years-old. In order to accurately score this tests, there are two different forms for the different age groups. The Adult Form is designed for clients ages 13 years or older and has 82 items. The Child Form is designed for students ages 7-14 years and has 76 items. A Short Form consisting of the first 20 items of either form can be used as well. (Fitts & Warren, 1996). The Adult Form, written at a 3rd-grade reading level, is designed for students 13 and over. The Child Form, however, is written at a 2nd- grade reading level and can be used with students between the ages of 7 and 14.
According to literature, the Total Self-Concept Score is “considered to be the most important score as is indicated whether the client typically has positive and consistent or negative and variable self-views.” (Fitts & Warren, 1997). Though, Hattie (1998) suggests that this assessment will be a popular, but “concluded that additional construct validation evidence” would help support the evidence.
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This test can be administered verbally or the client is able to take it by themselves and a clinician can score it. School Counselors, however, should consider making accommodations to students if they have IDEA or 504 services. In the event that this may happen, the time frame for assessment would go from 10-20 minute to however long the student may need, as this is not a standardized, timed assessment. When a school counselor is to perform this self concept test, is it also imperative that a SPED aid is present if the student is in need. While it would be beneficial to have the student perform the assessment by themselves, being able to help the student the using aids could skew the results slightly, but will utility benefit the student.
In the manual, the reliability and validity are important to assess, as these will serve as a guideline as to how well the evaluation will go. Since a test can be reliable without being valid, it is imperative to clear all of the variables in the exam so that it can have both. The reliability of the TSCS is adequate, with lower internal consistencies on subscales than Total Self-Concept, ranging from a = 0.73 to 0.93, according to test-retest reliability scores ranged from r = 0.47 to r =0.83 (Brown, 1998).
Fitts and Warren (1996) reported acceptable levels of score validity for the TSCS-2. This was standardized and conducted by a total of 3728 individuals, (1944 of the individuals were aged 13-90, where as 1784 were children aged 7-14). The TSCS-2 can be scored either by hand or by a computer. Scoring procedures have been simplified since the first edition, and the Manual includes “extensive interpretive guidance, as well as detailed case examples and recommendations regarding therapeutic intervention” (Fitts and Warren, 1996). If scored on a computer, the system will automatically generate a report of that can be shared with
The client or student. As a counselor, sharing the results with your client and your student would be therapeutic and beneficial, solely to help facilitate and “back” the reasoning as to why this exam was administered in the first place. The counselor’s job is to have the client lead the conversation and the counselor to follow.
The exam can be purchased online with the kit to score the exam on the computer as well. The test can vary from from $62.00 USD to about $150.00 USD. The most expensive option, though, is the CD which comes with 25 uses of the Adult or Child form and costs about $426.00 USD. This assessment is available to purchases simply going online and researching purchasing options. While there are other options available for other self-concept assessments (Joseph Picture Self Concept Scale, Personality Inventory for Youth, etc.), this assessment has been one of the easiest and most popular amongst clinicians and counselors as it is quick, easy to score, and has been revitalized to be used with a wide array of ages.
References
- Tennessee Self-Concept Scale-Second Edition (TSCS-2) – NCBI
- Pearson Assessments – Tennessee Self-Concept Scale-Second Edition
- Digital Scholarship @UNLV – The TN self-concept scale: psychometric study with spina bifida populations
- Iowa Research Online – Stability in Self-Perception Across the Lifespan: Evidence from participants’ reported scores on the Tennessee Self Concept Scale (TSCS)
- Taylor & Francis Online – Factorial Validity of the Tennessee Self Concept Scale—(Grade) School Form in a Nationally Representative Sample of African American Schoolchildren
- Pubmed – Reliability and validity of the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale-Second Edition in African American college students
- Google Books – Encyclopedia of Psychological Assessment
- European Journal of General Medicine – Investigating the self-concept in individuals using the Tennessee Self Concept Scale (TSCS)
