The Social Problem Solving Inventory Revised

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The Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised (SPSI-R; D’Zurilla et al., 2002) is a 52-item, Likert-type inventory consisting of five major scales that measure the five different dimensions in the D’Zurilla et al. social problem-solving model. These scales are the Positive Problem Orientation (PPO) scale (5 items), the Negative Problem Orientation (NPO) scale (10 items), the Rational Problem Solving (RPS) scale (20 items), the Impulsivity/Carelessness Style (ICS) scale (10 items), and the Avoidance Style (AS)scale (7 items). Using this instrument, “good” social problem-solving ability is indicated by high scores on PPO and RPS and low scores on NPO, ICS, and AS, whereas “poor” social problem-solving ability is indicated by low scores on PPO and RPS and high scores on NPO, ICS, and AS. In addition to the five major scales, the RPS scale is broken down into four subscales (each with five items) that measure the four major problem-solving skills in the D’Zurilla et al. social problem-solving model: (a) the Problem Definition and Formulation (PDF) subscale, (b) the Generation of Alternative Solutions (GAS) subscale,(c) the Decision Making (DM) subscale, and (d) the Solution Implementation and Verification (SIVS) subscale. A 25-item short form of the SPSI-R is also available that measures the five major problem-solving dimensions but does not provide subscales that measure the four specific skills within the rational problem-solving construct.

Content

Topics
Student Well-Being and Mental Health
Tags
Social and emotional learning
Grades
9th Grade,
10th Grade,
11th Grade,
12th Grade,
Post secondary
Languages
English
Respondent
Student

Administration Information

Length
10-20 minutes
Administration
Paper

Access and Use

Price

$361 (includes manual, 25 long form version, 25 short form version)

Link
https://storefront.mhs.com/collections/spsi-r
Open Access
No
Use in Research

Becker-Weidman, E. G., Jacobs, R. H., Reinecke, M. A., Silva, S. G., & March, J. S. (2010). Social problem-solving among adolescents treated for depression. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 48(1), 11-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2009.08.006

Bray, S., Barrowclough, C., & Lobban, F. (2007). The social problem-solving abilities of people with borderline personality disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 45(6), 1409-1417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2006.06.011

D'Zurilla, T. J., & Chang, E. C. (1995). The relations between social problem solving and coping. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 19(5), 547-562.  https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02230513

Morera, O. F., Maydeu-Olivares, A., Nygren, T. E., White, R. J., Fernandez, N. P., & Skewes, M. C. (2006). Social problem solving predicts decision making styles among US Hispanics. Personality and Individual Differences, 41(2), 307-317. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2005.08.016

Shewchuk, R. M., Johnson, M. O., & Elliott, T. R. (2000). Self-appraised social problem solving abilities, emotional reactions and actual problem solving performance. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 38(7), 727-740.  https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7967(99)00122-9

Psychometrics

Scoring
Manual scoring
Referencing
Norm-referenced
Psychometric References

Dreer, L. E., Berry, J., Rivera, P., Snow, M., Elliott, T. R., Miller, D., & Little, T. D. (2009). Efficient assessment of social problem‐solving abilities in medical and rehabilitation settings: a rasch analysis of the social problem‐solving inventory‐revised. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65(7), 653-669.  https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20573

Hawkins, D., Sofronoff, K., & Sheffield, J. (2009). Psychometric properties of the Social Problem Solving Inventory-Revised Short-Form: is the short form a valid and reliable measure for young adults?. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 33(5), 462-470.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-008-9209-7

Li, C. Y., Waid-Ebbs, J., Velozo, C. A., & Heaton, S. C. (2016). Factor structure and item level psychometrics of the Social Problem Solving Inventory–Revised: Short Form in traumatic brain injury. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation, 26(3), 446-463. https://doi.org/10.1080/09602011.2015.1044458

Sadowski, C., Moore, L. A., & Kelley, M. L. (1994). Psychometric properties of the Social Problem Solving Inventory (SPSI) with normal and emotionally disturbed adolescents. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 22(4), 487-500. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02168087

Wakeling, H. C. (2007). The psychometric validation of the Social Problem-Solving Inventory—Revised with UK incarcerated sexual offenders. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 19(3), 217-236. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11194-007-9038-3

Item Type
Likert