A direct 12-item measure of the broad positive self-concept spanning self-esteem, self-efficacy, locus of control and emotional stability.
| Construct measured | Core self-evaluations |
|---|---|
| Developed by | Judge, Erez, Bono & Thoresen (2003) |
| Original publication | Judge, T. A., Erez, A., Bono, J. E., & Thoresen, C. J. (2003). The Core Self-Evaluations Scale: Development of a measure. Personnel Psychology, 56(2), 303–331. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2003.tb00152.x |
| Number of items | 12 (6 positively and 6 negatively worded) |
| Response format | 5-point agreement scale (1 = Strongly disagree to 5 = Strongly agree) |
Unidimensional by design — a single core self-evaluations factor integrating the four lower-order traits rather than measuring them separately.
Alphas are commonly reported around .81–.87, with good test–retest stability.
Validated across four samples: a single-factor structure, convergence with the four component traits, discriminant validity from the Big Five, and incremental criterion validity for job satisfaction, life satisfaction and job performance beyond conscientiousness and neuroticism.
Employees and students; a staple in dispositional research on job attitudes.
United States. Validated translations in Spanish, German, Dutch, Chinese and many other languages.