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General Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale

The Generalized Self-Efficacy scale is a self-reported measure that includes 10 items designed to assess individual perceptions about self-efficacy, based on the original Generalized Self-Efficacy scale (Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1995). Different aspects of self-efficacy—that is, an optimistic sense of personal competence—captured by the scale include determination, problem-solving, and ability to cope.

Categories

Geographies Tested: Belgium,Canada,China,Costa Rica,Denmark,Finland,France,Germany,Greece,Hungary,India,Indonesia,Iran,Italy,Japan,Korea, South,Netherlands,Peru,Poland,Portugal,Russia,Spain,Syria,United Kingdom,United States of America

Populations Included: Female, Male

Age Range: Adolescents, Adults

Items:

  1. I can always manage to solve difficult problems if I try hard enough.
  2. If someone opposes me, I can find the means and ways to get what I want.
  3. I am certain that I can accomplish my goals.
  4. I am confident that I could deal efficiently with unexpected events.
  5. Thanks to my resourcefulness, I can handle unforeseen situations.
  6. I can solve most problems if I invest the necessary effort.
  7. I can remain calm when facing difficulties because I can rely on my coping abilities.
  8. When I am confronted with a problem, I can find several solutions.
  9. If I am in trouble, I can think of a good solution.
  10. I can handle whatever comes my way.

Response Options:
Not at all true - 1
Hardly true - 2
Moderately true - 3
Exactly true - 4

Scoring Procedures

The possible response range for each item is 1 to 4. Responses to all 10 items are summed with final score values ranging from 10 to 40; higher scores indicate greater self-efficacy.

Original Citation

Scholz, U., Doña, B. G., Sud, S., & Schwarzer, R. (2002). Is general self-efficacy a universal construct? Psychometric findings from 25 countries. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 18(3), 242-251. https://doi.org/10.1027//1015-5759.18.3.242


Psychometric Score

Ease of Use Score

Scoring breakdown

Formative Research

Qualitative Research

Existing Literature/Theoretical Framework

Field Expert Input

Cognitive Interviews / Pilot Testing

Reliability

Internal

Test-retest

Interrater

Validity

Content

Face

Criterion (gold-standard)

Construct

KEY

Ease of Use

Readability

Scoring Clarity

Length

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