Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (APS-R)

Abstract

The Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (APS-R) is a widely utilized psychological scale developed by Slaney and colleagues (1996, 2001) to measure multidimensional aspects of perfectionism. Unlike earlier conceptualizations that viewed perfectionism as a purely maladaptive trait, the APS-R distinguishes between positive, adaptive strivings (High Standards and Order) and negative, maladaptive concerns (Discrepancy). This 23-item instrument provides researchers and clinicians with a nuanced tool for assessing how individuals set and react to their personal standards, making it crucial for studies concerning mental health outcomes such as anxiety, depression, and academic performance.

Keywords

Perfectionism, Almost Perfect Scale-Revised, APS-R, High Standards, Discrepancy, Order, Psychometrics, Maladaptive Perfectionism, Psychological Scale, SAPS.

Authors

Randy B. Slaney, Kenneth G. Rice, Michael Mobley, Joseph Trippi, Janet S. Ashby, D. G. Johnson.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (APS-R) is to provide a reliable and valid measure that captures the multidimensional nature of perfectionism. Specifically, it was designed to differentiate between individuals who set high standards but are satisfied with their efforts (adaptive perfectionists) and those who set high standards but experience significant distress and dissatisfaction due to the perceived failure to meet those standards (maladaptive perfectionists).

By identifying these distinct components—High Standards (HS), Order (O), and Discrepancy (Disc)—the scale allows for a more precise understanding of how perfectionistic tendencies relate to various psychological outcomes, thereby guiding targeted intervention strategies in counseling and clinical settings.

Construct

The APS-R measures perfectionism as a three-dimensional construct, which is crucial for distinguishing between functional and dysfunctional behaviors. These three factors are:

• High Standards (HS): This dimension reflects the setting of rigorous, demanding personal standards and striving for excellence. It is generally considered the adaptive aspect of perfectionism, reflecting ambition and motivation.
• Order (O): This dimension captures the preference for organization, neatness, and structure in daily life. While often related to high standards, it is a separate factor measuring systematic behavior.
• Discrepancy (Disc): This is the core maladaptive component. It measures the perceived gap or failure between one’s high standards and one’s actual performance. High scores on Discrepancy are strongly associated with negative outcomes such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.

Validity

The APS-R has demonstrated substantial psychometric properties across numerous studies. Initial validation studies confirmed the theoretical three-factor structure using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), supporting the construct validity of the scale. The scale exhibits strong convergent validity, showing expected correlations with measures of related constructs like obsessive-compulsive traits and general achievement motivation.

Furthermore, studies, such as those by Mobley, Slaney, & Rice (2005), have investigated the scale’s cultural validity, confirming its applicability and factor structure across diverse populations, including African American college students. The Discrepancy subscale consistently shows strong predictive validity for psychological distress and maladjustment, further cementing the scale’s utility.

Reliability

The reliability of the Almost Perfect Scale-Revised is consistently reported as high across its subscales. Internal consistency, typically measured by Cronbach’s alpha, is excellent for the overall scale and particularly robust for the Discrepancy subscale, which often yields alpha coefficients exceeding 0.90. The High Standards and Order subscales also demonstrate good to excellent internal consistency (typically above 0.80).

Test-retest reliability has been established, indicating that the scores obtained by participants are stable over reasonable periods, making the APS-R a reliable instrument for both clinical assessment and longitudinal research.

Factor Analysis

The development of the APS-R involved extensive statistical analysis, transitioning from the original Almost Perfect Scale (APS). Factor Analysis (both Exploratory and Confirmatory) consistently supports the three-factor model: High Standards (HS), Order (O), and Discrepancy (Disc). This three-factor structure provides empirical evidence for the distinction between adaptive striving and maladaptive self-evaluation, which is the theoretical foundation of the scale.

The items are distributed among these factors as follows: High Standards (Items 1, 5, 8, 12, 14, 18, 22), Order (Items 2, 4, 7, 10), and Discrepancy (Items 3, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23). The Discrepancy factor, comprising nearly half the items, reflects the central importance of perceived failure in predicting distress.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report Psychological Scale

Format: 23-item questionnaire (APS-R) or 8-item questionnaire (Short Form of the Revised Almost Perfect Scale, SAPS). Responses are captured using a 6-point Likert Scale.

Language Available: Primarily English, though translations have been used in research settings globally.

Population Group: General population, widely used among college students and clinical samples.

Age Group: Adolescents (high school age) through adulthood.

Population Details: Originally validated on university student populations, but subsequent studies (e.g., Mobley et al., 2005) confirm its utility across diverse demographic groups.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate each item on a scale ranging from 1, representing “strongly disagree,” to 6, representing “strongly agree.” Scoring involves summing the scores for the three distinct subscales (HS, O, Disc).

Keywords

Psychometrics, Multidimensional Perfectionism, Adaptive Perfectionism, Maladaptive Perfectionism, Clinical Assessment, Counseling Psychology, Self-Evaluation, Discrepancy.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source content.

Correspondence Address: Correspondence is typically directed to the primary author, R. B. Slaney, or K. G. Rice (for recent revisions), often affiliated with academic institutions like The Pennsylvania State University.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The APS-R is generally treated as an academic instrument and is widely accessible for research and clinical purposes, often requiring permission from the primary authors for commercial use or modification. The initial revised version was documented in 1996 and formally published in 2001. The Short Form (SAPS) was published in 2014.

The original PDF of the scale (APS-R, 1996) can be downloaded here: http://kennethwang.com/apsr/scales/APS-R_96.pdf

Another PDF version is available here: https://imajnearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Almost-Perfect-Scale_revised_ia.pdf

The Short Form (SAPS) is available via PsyToolkit: https://www.psytoolkit.org/survey-library/perfectionism-saps.html

Reference’s

• Slaney, R. B., & Johnson, D. G. (1992). The Almost Perfect Scale. Unpublished manuscript, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.

• Slaney, R. B., Mobley, M., Trippi, J., Ashby, J., & Johnson, D. G. (1996). The Almost Perfect Scale-Revised. Unpublished manuscript, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.

• Slaney, R. B., Rice, K. G, Mobley, M., Trippi, J., & Ashby, J. (2001). The Revised Almost Perfect Scale. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 34, 130-145.

• Slaney, R. B., Rice, K. G., & Ashby, J. S. (2002). A programmatic approach to measuring perfectionism: The Almost Perfect Scales. In G. L. Flett, P. L. Hewitt (Eds.), Perfectionism: Theory, research, and treatment (pp. 63-88). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

• Mobley, M., Slaney, R. B., & Rice, K. G. (2005). Cultural validity of the Almost Perfect Scale-Revised for African American college students. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52, 629-639.

• Rice, K. G., Richardson, C. E., & Tueller, S. (2014). The Short Form of the Revised Almost Perfect Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 96(3), 368-379.

Items of the Almost Perfect Scale-Revised (APS-R)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. I have high standards for my performance at work or at school.
2. I am an orderly person.
3. I often feel frustrated because I can’t meet my goals.
4. Neatness is important to me.
5. If you don’t expect much out of yourself, you will never succeed.
6. My best just never seems to be good enough for me.
7. I think things should be put away in their place
8. I have high expectations for myself.
9. I rarely live up to my high standards.
10. I like to always be organized and disciplined.
11. Doing my best never seems to be enough.
12. I set very high standards for myself.
13. I am never satisfied with my accomplishments.
14. I expect the best from myself.
15. I often worry about not measuring up to my own expectations.
16. My performance rarely measures up to my standards.
17. I am not satisfied even when I know I have done my best.
18. I try to do my best at everything I do.
19. I am seldom able to meet my own high standards of performance.
20. I am hardly ever satisfied with my performance.
21. I hardly ever feel that what I’ve done is good enough.
22. I have a strong need to strive for excellence.
23. I often feel disappointment after completing a task because I know I could have done better.