Variable
Rosenberg (1989) defined global self-esteem as the overall attitude one holds about oneself, ranging from nega-
tive to positive. High self-esteem entails the belief that one is ‘good enough’ whereas low self-esteem is associated
with self-rejection and a general lack of self-respect.
Description
According to Blascovich and Tomaka (1991, p. 121) :
The 10 items that make up the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale [RSE] were designed to optimize ease of administration, economy of time,
unidimensionality, and face validity. Self-Esteem Scale items require the respondent to report feelings about the self directly. Although
originally designed as a Guttman-type scale, the [RSE] is typically scored using a four-point response format (strongly agree, agree, dis-
agree, strongly disagree) resulting in a scale range of 10 /C040 with higher scores representing higher self-esteem. Some authors, however,
have adopted more familiar Likert-type response formats employing 5- or 7-point scales resulting in broader ranges of [RSE] scores.
While contemporary investigators typically use the 10 Rosenberg items with a 4-point rating scale ( Heatherton &
Wyland, 2003 ), it is also common for researchers to add a neutral response option and thus use a 5-point Likert-type
response scale (e.g., Donnellan, Kenny, Trzesniewski, Lucas, & Conger, 2012 ;Gray-Little, Williams, & Hancock,
1997). Other response options have also been reported in the literature (see discussion pertaining to number of
response scale points in Chapter 1, this volume).
Sample
Details of the original sample ( N55,024) used in the construction of the RSE were provided in Blascovich
and Tomaka (1991, p. 121) . Subsequently, Schmitt and Allik (2005) investigated the psychometric properties of
the RSE in several countries using samples ranging from N559 (Cyprus) to N52,782 (United States) with a
combined sample of N516,998 (see below). Sinclair et al. (2010) also administered the RSE online to a sample
ofN5503 respondents (see below). Even larger combined samples have been reported in the literature
(e.g., N520,332; Rosenthal, Matthew Montoya, Ridings, Rieck, & Hooley, 2011 , see below).
Reliability
Internal Consistency
Cronbach alpha coefficients for the RSE are usually above .80 and values above .90 have been reported in the
literature ( Heatherton & Wyland, 2003 ). For example, Gray-Little et al. (1997) reported an alpha coefficient of .88
for a sample of 1,234 college students. Likewise, Zeigler-Hill (2010) reported an alpha coefficient of .88 for a sam-
ple of 1,422 university students. Schmitt and Allik (2005) administered the RSE to participants from 53 countries
and reported alpha coefficients ranging from .45 (Democratic Republic of the Congo; N5183) to .90 (Israel and
the United Kingdom; N5389 and N5480, respectively). The average alpha coefficient was .81 (total
N516,998). Sinclair et al. (2010) collected data from an internet sample designed to match the population of the
United States and reported an alpha coefficient of .91 ( N5503).
Test/C0Retest
Ackerman and Donnellan (2013) reported a two-week test /C0retest reliability coefficient of .80 ( N5143 univer-
sity students). Donnellan and McAdams (2013) reported a stability coefficient of .69 for a sample of college stu-
dents assessed initially in the middle of their first semester and then again in the middle of their second semester
(N5347). Donnellan et al. (2012) reported even higher stability coefficients for individuals aged in their early
30s assessed over a two-year span ( r5.77,N5399). Recently, Kuster and Orth (2013) suggested that the long-
term stability coefficient for items from the RSE is around .40 for intervals approaching up to 30 years, based on
a sample of 3,180 participants. All of these findings suggest that the RSE captures variance related to a reasonably
stable individual difference construct (cf. Donnellan et al., 2012 ;Trzesniewski, Donnellan, & Robins, 2003 ).
Validity
Convergent/Concurrent
Zeigler-Hill (2010) reported a positive correlation of .71 with the State Self-Esteem Scale ( Heatherton & Polivy,
1991). He also reported that the RSE was strongly associated with both the Self-Liking ( r5.90) and Self-
Competence ( r5.71) scales developed by Tafarodi and Swann (2001) . The RSE correlated with the Harter global
subscale .74 and .75 ( Donnellan, Trzesniewski, Conger, & Conger, 2007 ; Ferrier et al., 2008). Buhrmester et al. (2011)134 6. MEASURES OF SELF-ESTEEM
II. EMOTIONAL DISPOSITIONS