How Does the Number of Response Options Impact the Psychometric Properties of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale?

Abstract

The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale is the most frequently used measure of self-esteem in the social sciences. These items are often administered with a different number of response options, but it is unclear how the number of response options impacts the psychometric properties of this measure. Across three experiments ( Ns = 739, 2,358, and 1,461), we evaluated how different response options of the Rosenberg influenced (a) coefficient alpha estimates, (b) distributions of scores, and (c) associations with criterion-related variables. Observed coefficient alpha estimates were lowest for a 2-point format compared with response formats with more options. However, supplemental analyses using ordinal alpha pointed to similar estimates across conditions. Using four or more response options better approximated a normal distribution for observed summary scores. We found no consistent evidence that criterion-related correlations increased with more response options. Collectively, these results suggest that the Rosenberg should be administered with at least four response options and we favor a 5-point Likert-type response format.