Trait Sport-Confidence Inventory (TSCI)
(Vealey, 1986 ).
Variable
Vealey (1986) defined sport-confidence as ‘the belief or degree of certainty individuals possess about their abil-
ity to be successful in sport’.
Description
The TSCI is intended to measure sport-specific trait self-confidence (sport-confidence), rather than a general
sense of confidence. The TSCI therefore assesses athletes’ sense of confidence in their ability to perform success-
fully in their sport under adverse conditions, relative to the most confident athlete they know. The scale consists
of 13 items, such as, ‘compare your confidence in your ability to be successful to the most confident athlete you
know’, rated on a 9-point Likert-type scale (1 5Low;55Medium ; and 9 5High ). Scores are summed, ranging
from 13 to 117, with higher scores indicative of greater confidence.
This scale was developed along with the State Sport-Confidence Inventory (SSCI). The SSCI consists of identi-
cal item content to the TSCI, worded in terms of one’s present sport-confidence state. Although not included
here, the SSCI can be found at the same location below.
Sample
Vealey (1986) reported means and standard deviations for three athlete samples: 92 High school students 5
77.66 (14.81); 91 College students 577.77 (17.09); and 48 Elite Gymnasts 599.79 (13.65). In total, these three
groups had a mean score of 82.30, and standard deviation 17.88.
Reliability
Internal Consistency
Vealey (1986) reported item-total correlations exceeding .50, and a Cronbach alpha coefficient of .93.
Test/C0Retest
Test/C0retest coefficients for high school and university student athletes were found to be .86 after one day, .89
after one week, and .83 after one month ( Vealey, 1986 ).
Validity
Convergent/Concurrent
Vealey (1986) reported that TSCI scores shared significant positive correlations with two measures of state
sport-confidence ( r5.64 and .48), physical self-presentation confidence ( r5.30) and self-esteem ( r5.31). It also
shared low, yet statistically significant, correlations with perceived physical ability ( r5.18) Furthermore, TSCI
scores correlated significantly and positively with the Trait-robustness of Self-confidence Inventory ( r5.44), a
measure of athletes’ confidence in the face of adversity described above ( Beattie et al., 2011 ).
Divergent/Discriminant
Vealey (1986) reported significant negative correlations with external locus of control ( r5/C0.18) and trait com-
petitiveness ( r5/C0.28,/C0.30, and /C0.18).
Criterion/Predictive
Gayton and Nickless (1987) found that TSCI scores of marathon runners, collected prior to running, correlated
significantly and negatively with their actual marathon finishing times ( r5/C0.43) in a small sample ( N525).
That is, more confident runners were faster, as expected.
Location
Vealey, R.S. (1986). Conceptualization of sport-confidence and competitive orientation: Preliminary investiga-
tion and instrument development. Journal of Sport Psychology, 8(2) , 221/C0246.173 SELF-REPORT PHYSICAL CONFIDENCE SCALES
II. EMOTIONAL DISPOSITIONS