Robson Self-Concept Questionnaire

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Abstract

The Robson Self Concept Questionnaire (SCQ) is a widely recognized psychometric instrument developed to provide a comprehensive, multidimensional assessment of an individual’s self-esteem and self-perceptions. Unlike earlier unidimensional scales, the SCQ is specifically designed to map the intricate nature of the self by examining multiple facets of self-worth across seven distinct domains.

The SCQ serves as a valuable tool in both research and clinical settings for gaining nuanced insights into a person’s strengths, vulnerabilities, and overall sense of self-regard. Comprising 30 items rated on an 8-point Likert scale, the instrument yields an overall score reflecting global self-esteem, allowing comparison to established normative data and facilitating targeted intervention and personal development planning.

Keywords

Self-esteem, Self-concept, Psychometric Scale, John M. Robson, Psychological Assessment, Self-Perception, Multidimensional Measurement, Clinical Tool

Authors

John M. Robson, David Westbrook (Distribution/Compilation of Normative Data)

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Robson Self Concept Questionnaire (SCQ) is to quantify the level of global self-esteem in adults while simultaneously identifying specific strengths and weaknesses across various domains of self-concept. By offering a nuanced perspective, the instrument moves beyond simple scoring to provide a diagnostic map of how an individual views their worth and capabilities in different life areas.

In clinical practice, the SCQ aids in enhancing self-awareness, helping individuals recognize areas of low self-regard that may require therapeutic attention. Furthermore, it is an effective measure for tracking psychological progress during therapy or self-improvement initiatives, allowing patients and practitioners to reliably monitor changes in self-esteem over time, thus gauging the effectiveness of interventions.

Construct

The scale measures the psychological construct of self-concept, specifically defining self-esteem not as a singular trait but as a composite, multifaceted structure. The SCQ operationalizes self-esteem across seven core domains, reflecting the complexity of the internal compass that guides an individual’s sense of value and effectiveness in the world.

These seven dimensions provide a comprehensive overview of self-perception utilized within the instrument:

  • Subjective Sense of Significance: The feeling of being valued, appreciated, and holding a unique place in one’s social context.
  • Worthiness: The belief in one’s inherent value, deserving of love and respect irrespective of external achievements or validation.
  • Appearance and Social Acceptability: Comfort with one’s physical self and the perceived impact of social acceptance on self-worth.
  • Competence: Confidence in possessing the requisite skills and abilities to handle life’s challenges effectively.
  • Resilience and Determination: The capacity to recover from setbacks and maintain unwavering resolve in the face of adversity.
  • Control over Personal Destiny: The perception of being empowered to shape one’s life trajectory and outcomes (internal locus of control).
  • Value of Existence: The subjective experience of finding meaning and purpose in life.

Validity

The foundation of the SCQ’s validity was established in Robson’s 1989 development paper, which aimed for robust construct validity by ensuring the items empirically represented the seven defined theoretical domains of self-concept. This multidimensional approach was key to differentiating the SCQ from more simplistic self-esteem measures prevalent at the time.

Furthermore, criterion validity is supported by the normative data, which demonstrates the scale’s ability to discriminate between healthy control populations and clinical groups. For example, patients diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and those referred for psychotherapy exhibit substantially lower mean total scores compared to controls who report no evidence of a psychological disorder, confirming its clinical relevance as an indicator of psychological distress linked to poor self-regard.

Reliability

While specific statistical measures of internal consistency (e.g., Cronbach’s Alpha) are not detailed in the available source material, the design—utilizing 30 carefully constructed items across seven domains and an expansive 8-point response range—is structured to maximize reliability and reduce measurement error. The scale is typically used in longitudinal studies and clinical tracking, underscoring its utility for consistent measurement.

To ensure reliable data reflective of enduring self-concept, practitioners are advised to administer the SCQ consistently over time. This practice minimizes the influence of temporary fluctuations in mood or recent life events, thus providing more stable and trustworthy comparisons regarding the individual’s long-term sense of self-worth.

Factor Analysis

The construction of the Robson Self Concept Questionnaire was fundamentally based on a theoretical and empirical understanding of self-esteem as a multidimensional construct, suggesting that factor analytic methods underpinned its development. This approach ensured that item clusters loaded appropriately onto the hypothesized seven factors (domains).

The resulting seven-factor structure successfully validates the scale’s central premise: that self-esteem is not a single, homogeneous entity but a complex composite of perceptions relating to competence, worthiness, control, and social significance. This structure allows researchers to analyze specific sub-components of self-esteem rather than relying solely on the global total score.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-Report Questionnaire (Multifaceted Self-Esteem Scale)

Format: 30 statements using an 8-point Likert-style scale (ranging from 0, "Completely Disagree," to 7, "Completely Agree").

Language Available: English (Original)

Population Group: Clinical and Non-Clinical Adults

Age Group: Typically utilized with adult populations.

Population Details: Normative data is available for British control samples (Mean=140, SD=20) and clinical groups, including patients diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and women reporting childhood sexual abuse.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate 30 statements based on how they typically feel most of the time. Scoring requires summing the ratings; 14 items are scored normally, while 16 items are reversed (e.g., a score of 0 becomes 7, 1 becomes 6, etc.) to ensure higher total scores indicate higher self-esteem.

Keywords

Self-worth, Resilience, Competence, Social acceptability, Locus of control, Psychological assessment, Clinical psychology, Psychotherapy outcome measure

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source material.

Correspondence Address: Original correspondence related to the scale is John M. Robson (1989). Later distribution information lists David Westbrook (October 1997) via http://www.octc.co.uk.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale was developed and published in 1989 by John M. Robson. Current permissions and fee structure are not detailed in the source material, but the scale is widely used in academic and clinical settings. The provided source material detailing norms and scoring was compiled and distributed by David Westbrook in October 1997.

Reference’s

  • Robson (1989). Development of a new self-report questionnaire to measure self-esteem. Psychological Medicine, 19, 513-518.
  • Romans, Martin & Mullen (1996). Women’s self-esteem: a community study of women who report and do not report childhood sexual abuse. British Journal of Psychiatry, 169, 696-704.

Items of the Robson Self Concept Questionnaire

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

Name ………………………………………………………………………………… Date: / /
This questionnaire deals with attitudes and beliefs which some people have about themselves.
Please indicate how much you agree or disagree with each statement by ringing the single number in each section which represents how you typically feel most of the time.
Since people vary so much in the opinions they hold‚ there are no right or wrong answers.
Completely Disagree
Disagree
Agree
Completely Agree
1.
I have control over my own life.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
2.
I’m easy to like.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
3.
I never feel down in the dumps for very long.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
4:
I can never seem to achieve anything worthwhile.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
5:
There are lots of things I’d change about myself if I could.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
6.
I am not embarrassed to let people know my opinions.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
7:
I don’t care what happens to me.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8:
I seem to be very unlucky.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9.
Most people find me reasonably attractive.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
10.
I’m glad I’m who I am.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
11:
Most people would take advantage of me if they could.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
12.
I am a reliable person.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
13:
It would be boring if I talked about myself.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
14:
When I’m successful‚ there’s usually a lot of luck involved.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
15.
I have a pleasant personality.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
16.
If a task is difficult‚ that just makes me all the more determined.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
17:
I often feel humiliated.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
18.
I can usually make up my mind and stick to it.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
19:
Everyone else seems much more confident and contented than me.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
20:
Even when I quite enjoy myself‚ there doesn’t seem much purpose to it all.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
21:
I often worry about what other people are thinking about me.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
22:
There’s a lot of truth in the saying What will be‚ will be”.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
23:
I look awful these days.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
24.
If I really try‚ I can overcome most of my problems.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
25:
It’s pretty tough to be me.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
26.
I feel emotionally mature.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
27:
When people criticize me‚ I often feel helpless and second-rate.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
28:
When progress is difficult‚ I often find myself thinking it’s just not worth the effort.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
29.
I can like myself even when others don’t.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
30.
Those who know me well are fond of me.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Please check that you have responded to every statement.

Cite this article

Mohammed looti (2025). Robson Self-Concept Questionnaire. Psychological Scales & Instruments Database. Retrieved from https://db.arabpsychology.com/scales/robson-self-concept-questionnaire/

Mohammed looti. "Robson Self-Concept Questionnaire." Psychological Scales & Instruments Database, 10 Oct. 2025, https://db.arabpsychology.com/scales/robson-self-concept-questionnaire/.

Mohammed looti. "Robson Self-Concept Questionnaire." Psychological Scales & Instruments Database, 2025. https://db.arabpsychology.com/scales/robson-self-concept-questionnaire/.

Mohammed looti (2025) 'Robson Self-Concept Questionnaire', Psychological Scales & Instruments Database. Available at: https://db.arabpsychology.com/scales/robson-self-concept-questionnaire/.

[1] Mohammed looti, "Robson Self-Concept Questionnaire," Psychological Scales & Instruments Database, vol. X, no. Y, ص Z-Z, October, 2025.

Mohammed looti. Robson Self-Concept Questionnaire. Psychological Scales & Instruments Database. 2025;vol(issue):pages.

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