Introduction
The Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE) is a concise and influential self-report measure designed to assess subjective feelings of well-being and ill-being. in 2009, Edward Diener and his research team developed the Questionnaire. the SPANE captures the frequency of a wide range of positive and negative emotional experiences over the past four weeks. Since its publication, it has become a cornerstone instrument in positive psychology and well-being research, amassing over 6,000 citations. Its primary purpose is to provide a comprehensive yet brief assessment of a person’s affective well-being by including both general feelings (e.g., positive, negative) and specific emotions (e.g., joyful, sad). This article provides an in-depth exploration of the SPANE, its psychometric properties, and its diverse applications for researchers and clinicians.
Key Features of the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE)
The Questionnaire is distinguished by its efficient and balanced design, which captures the core of a person’s emotional life. Consequently, understanding its key features is essential for its effective application in research and practice.
Purpose and Use
The fundamental purpose of the Questionnaire is to assess subjective feelings by measuring the frequency of both positive and negative emotional experiences. This provides a holistic view of a person’s affective well-being, making it useful for a broad range of psychological assessments.
Target Population
Researchers designed the Questionnaire primarily for adults (18+ years) across diverse cultures. Clinicians and scientists now also validate and use it with adolescents (13-17 years), demonstrating its versatility for college students and other age groups.
Structure
The SPANE contains 12 items evenly split between two balanced components:
- Positive Feelings (6 items): This subscale measures the frequency of experiencing feelings such as positive, good, pleasant, happy, joyful, and contented.
- Negative Feelings (6 items): This subscale assesses the frequency of feelings like negative, bad, unpleasant, sad, afraid, and angry.
This structure ensures a comprehensive evaluation of a person’s emotional landscape over the preceding four weeks.
Scoring Method
The scoring protocol for the SPANE is straightforward and yields three distinct and informative scores.
- Response Scale: Participants rate all 12 items on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (Very Rarely or Never) to 5 (Very Often or Always).
- Calculating Scores: Three separate scores are calculated from the responses:
- SPANE-P (Positive Experience Score): This is the sum of the six positive items. The score ranges from 6 to 30.
- SPANE-N (Negative Experience Score): This is the sum of the six negative items. The score ranges from 6 to 30.
- SPANE-B (Balance Score): This is calculated by subtracting the SPANE-N score from the SPANE-P score. The score ranges from -24 to 24.
- Interpretation: Higher scores on the SPANE-P indicate more frequent positive experiences, while higher scores on the SPANE-N suggest more frequent negative experiences. A higher SPANE-B score reflects a more positive overall balance of emotion, indicating greater emotional well-being. The scale does not use pre-defined clinical cut-off scores.
Administration Format
The questionnaire is extremely brief, taking less than 5 minutes to complete. It is self-administrated and can be in paper, digital, or interview formats, requiring no special training.
Applications of the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE)
The SPANE’s efficiency and comprehensive nature make it a valuable tool in various settings.
- Screening: The SPANE enables rapid screening of emotional well-being, flagging individuals with elevated negative affect or diminished positive affect.
- Monitoring: The scale is useful for monitoring changes in emotional well-being over time, for example, in response to therapeutic interventions, lifestyle changes, or in workplace wellness programs.
- Research: The SPANE is a cornerstone instrument in positive psychology research. Researchers widely use the SPANE to study the correlates of happiness, the effectiveness of well-being interventions, and cross-cultural differences in emotional experiences.
Languages and Availability
To facilitate its worldwide use, the Questionnaire is available in numerous languages, including:
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- Arabic
- English
- Spanish
- French
- German
This extensive translation effort supports its application in cross-cultural research on subjective well-being.
Validation and Reliability of the Questionnaire
The SPANE is a highly reliable and valid measure of emotional well-being, with strong psychometric properties demonstrated across numerous studies and cultures.
- Reliability: The scale consistently shows excellent internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients typically ranging from 0.80 to 0.90.
- Validation Studies: The SPANE has undergone extensive validation in diverse populations. Research teams in Spain and China have validated the SPANE, confirming its robust psychometric properties and cross-cultural applicability. Their findings solidify its reputation as a scientifically rigorous measure of affective well-being.
Related Questionnaires
- Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)
- Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS)
- Flourishing Scale (FS)
- Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF)
- Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS)
Limitations
Despite its many advantages, the SPANE has a few limitations to consider:
- Self-Report Measure: When completing the Questionnaire, respondents’ scores may reflect their transient moods, memory biases, and immediate self-perception rather than stable traits.
- Social Desirability Bias: Respondents often overreport positive feelings and underreport negative ones to present themselves favorably, creating social desirability bias in SPANE results.
- Cultural Bias: While valid across cultures, differing emotional expressions and interpretations may introduce cultural bias in SPANE responses.
- Limited “Emotional Granularity”: The SPANE’s six-emotion limit per valence (positive/negative) may overlook nuanced or complex emotional states.
- Age Restrictions: The SPANE targets adults and adolescents, as current evidence doesn’t support its use with younger children.
Cost and Licensing
The Questionnaire is free to use for all purposes. It is copyrighted by Ed Diener and Robert Biswas-Diener but is provided for public use without charge.
Additional Resources
For those looking to utilize or learn more about the SPANE questionnaire, the following resources are highly recommended:
- Official Website: For more information from the developers and to access the scale, visit Professor Ed Diener’s website.
- Questionnaire PDF
- Original Validation Study
- Inquiries: For further inquiries, you can contact Professor Ed Diener at ediener@illinois.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who can use the SPANE?
Clinicians, researchers, and individuals can use the SPANE. It is designed for adults and has been validated for use with adolescents (13-17 years).
How long does it take to complete the SPANE?
The SPANE is very brief and typically takes less than 5 minutes to complete.
How is the SPANE administered?
It is a self-administered questionnaire that can be completed on paper, online, or through an interview.
Is there any cost to using the SPANE?
No, the SPANE is free for all uses, including commercial, clinical, and research purposes.
A word from ResRef
The Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE) represents a significant advancement in the measurement of emotional well-being. Its balanced approach to assessing both positive and negative emotions, inclusion of both general and specific feelings, and strong psychometric properties across diverse cultural contexts make it an invaluable tool. The scale’s brevity and ease of administration further enhance its utility in research. The SPANE has become a cornerstone measure in positive psychology research and is increasingly being adopted in clinical settings, workplace wellness programs, and public health initiatives focused on promoting well-being.
References
- Diener, E., Wirtz, D., Tov, W. et al. New Well-being Measures: Short Scales to Assess Flourishing and Positive and Negative Feelings. Soc Indic Res 97, 143–156 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-009-9493-y. Link
- Li F, Bai X, Wang Y (2013) The Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE): Psychometric Properties and Normative Data in a Large Chinese Sample. PLOS ONE 8(4): e61137. Link
- Espejo, B.; Checa, I.; Perales-Puchalt, J.; Lisón, J.F. Validation and Measurement Invariance of the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE) in a Spanish General Sample. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 8359. Link
