Introduction
The Self-Determination Scale (SDS) is a 10-item self-report scale that assesses a person's general level of self-determination. It measures how far people experience themselves as self-aware, in touch with their own feelings, and acting with a sense of choice and personal autonomy. Kennon M. Sheldon developed it in 1993 and published it in 1995.
The SDS is also known as the Perceived Choice and Awareness of Self Scale (PCASS), and its original article has received more than 1,800 citations. This guide explains its subscales, response format, scoring and evidence.
Key Features of the Self-Determination Scale (SDS)
Purpose and Use
The SDS assesses general self-determination through two complementary ideas:
Self-contact: awareness of oneself and one's feelingsChoicefulness: a sense of perceived choice in one's actionsTarget Population
The SDS is intended for adults aged 18 and older.
Structure
The SDS has 10 items in two subscales of five items each: perceived choice in one's actions, and awareness of oneself. The subscales can be used separately or combined into an overall score.
Scoring Method
Each item presents two contrasting statements (A and B), and respondents indicate which one feels more true, on a scale running from "only A feels true" to "only B feels true."
Overall score: the sum of the 10 item scoresSubscale scores: Self-contact and Choicefulness can also be scored separatelyHigher scores indicate greater self-determination.
Administration Format
The SDS is a self-report questionnaire with a bipolar choice format (statement A versus statement B).
Applications of the Self-Determination Scale (SDS)
The SDS supports several uses:
Personality research: measuring self-determination as a general trait.Creativity and autonomy research: the original study linked SDS scores with creativity and other autonomy-related constructs.Languages and availability
The SDS (PCASS) is available in English from the Self-Determination Theory website, which provides a copy of the 10-item scale.
For commercial use or clinical application, specific written permission from the authors or copyright holders (K. M. Sheldon and R. M. Ryan) may be needed. Details on permissions are kept on the official Self-Determination Theory website.
Reliability and Validity
Cronbach's alpha for the full scale ranged from 0.86 to 0.92 across several samples. The original study showed strong internal consistency and meaningful associations with creativity and other autonomy-related constructs.
Validation studies:
Creativity and self-determination in personality (Sheldon, 1995): study linkWhat makes for a good day? Competence and autonomy in the day and in the person (Sheldon, Ryan and Reis, 1996): study linkLimitations and Considerations
Keep these points in mind:
Permissions: commercial or clinical use may need written permission from the authors.No cut-offs: scores are interpreted as a continuous measure, with higher scores meaning greater self-determination.Other Versions And Related Questionnaires
The SDS is also distributed as the Perceived Choice and Awareness of Self Scale (PCASS).
A related questionnaire is the General Causality Orientations Scale (GCOS).
Additional Resources
The original article: linkThe Self-Determination Theory website: linkImplicit and self-attributed achievement motives (Thrash and Elliot, 2002): linkThe original article lists Kennon M. Sheldon, Department of Psychology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA, at sheldon@prodigal.psych.rochester.edu.Browse more psychology questionnaires in the ResRef database.Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does the Self-Determination Scale measure?The SDS measures general self-determination: how self-aware people are, how in touch they are with their feelings, and how much they act with a sense of choice. It has two subscales, Self-contact and Choicefulness.
How is the Self-Determination Scale scored?Each item pairs two statements, and respondents mark how far statement A or B feels true. The 10 item scores are summed for an overall score, and higher scores indicate greater self-determination.
Is the SDS the same as the PCASS?Yes. The Self-Determination Scale is also known as the Perceived Choice and Awareness of Self Scale (PCASS), a 10-item scale with two five-item subscales that can be used separately or combined.
Is the Self-Determination Scale free to use?The scale is available on the Self-Determination Theory website. For commercial use or clinical application, written permission from K. M. Sheldon and R. M. Ryan may be required.
A Word from ResRef About the Self-Determination Scale (SDS)
The SDS is a brief self-report instrument designed to assess general self-determination through the complementary constructs of Self-contact and Choicefulness. The original study demonstrated strong internal consistency and meaningful associations with creativity and other autonomy-related constructs.
References
Sheldon, K. M. (1995). Creativity and Self-Determination in Personality. Creativity Research Journal, 8(1), 25–36. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15326934crj0801_3Sheldon, K. M., Ryan, R., & Reis, H. T. (1996). What Makes for a Good Day? Competence and Autonomy in the Day and in the Person. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 22(12), 1270–1279. https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672962212007