Promoting Student Success in Early College Credit Courses
Category: Student Learning
Instrument Overview
Expert Notes AvailableView expert commentary on strengths and cautions for this instrument
Strengths
Strong reliability; validated primarily with U.S. college students for assessing perceived problem-solving ability. Useful for examining relationships between perceived problem-solving ability and psychological adjustment, coping, and related outcomes.
Cautions
Limited evidence for younger students and non-U.S. populations.
The Problem Solving Inventory (PSI) is a 32-item survey instrument. It measures how individuals perceive their own real-life, personal problem-solving abilities. The scale is structured around three key dimensions: Problem-solving confidence: An individual's belief and trust in their ability to solve problems. Approach-avoidance style: The tendency to move toward or away from different problem-solving activities. Personal control: The belief that one can control their emotions and behaviors while solving problems.This instrument was developed and validated in 1982. It was based on a revision of an earlier problem-solving inventory. The PSI uses a 6-point Likert-style format. It is designed for use with college students and adults. This tool provides an easy-to-administer way for counselors and researchers to understand how people manage troublesome situations. Unlike laboratory tests, it focuses on applied problem-solving in real-life contexts.
Organization
Topic
Collection Category(ies)
Content
Grades
Post secondary
Languages
English
Respondent
Student
Administration Information
Length
32 items
Qualifications
Deluca, W. & Lari, N (2013)
Psychometrics (additional guidance)
Reliability
Problem-solving confidence, a = .85; approach-avoidance style, a. = .84; personal control, a = .72; and total inventory, a = .90
Item Type
Likert
