Construct Evaluation of the Tennessee Self Concept Scale

Abstract

Fitts' (1965) Tennessee Self Concept Scale (TSCS) has been a commonly used test of "self-concept" over the past 15 years. However, no studies have conducted a systematic evaluation of the empirical constructs inherent in the TSCS. This study analyzed self concept scores on the TSCS from three groups of subjects-one clinical sample and two college samples. Five separate arrangements of item pools were organized from the TSCS for assessing the validity and related issues directed at the instrument. A general pattern of results predominated all separate analyses: (a) almost all alpha coefficients were above .80, (b) low inter-item correlations were prevalent throughout the separate item pools, and (c) the empirical dimensions identified by factor analyses were incongruent with the theoretical dimensions of the test at all levels of analysis. Discussions were made regarding the utility of the TSCS in an applied setting.