SPSI–R Complements for SPSI–R
Social Problem-Solving Inventory–Revised
BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory (BarOn EQ-i®) BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory: Youth Version (BarOn EQ-i: YV™) Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS) Help-Assert for Windows™ Internalized Shame Scale (ISS) Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT™) Social Effectiveness Therapy (SET) Social Effectiveness Therapy for Children (SET–C) Social Adjustment Scale-Self Report (SAS–SR) Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory (SPAI)
Assesses an individual’s problem-solving style and ability to generate solutions For pricing and ordering information: Website: www.mhs.com Email:
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T. J. D’Zurilla, Ph.D., A. M. Nezu, Ph.D., ABBP, & A. Mayeu-Olivares, Ph.D. Self-Report, 52 items; 25 items for SPSI-R: Short Ages 13 years and older 15–20 minutes administration time; 10 minutes for SPSI–R: Short B-Level User Qualification © 2002 MHS Inc.
Social Problem-Solving Inventory–Revised Thomas J. D’Zurilla, Ph.D., Albert M. Nezu, Ph.D., ABBP, & Arthur Mayeu-Olivares, Ph.D. Aim
and adjustment or effective functioning, as well as the efficacy of
tories in a larger battery of tests, or other similar situations. A total
solving. Higher scores on the three dysfunctional scales (NPO, ICS,
The term social problem solving refers to problem solving as it occurs
problem-solving training and therapy programs.
SPSI–R score provides a global indicator of the level of a person’s
and AS) indicate more defective problem solving. Lower social
social problem-solving ability, but it is equally important to
problem-solving ability is related to such forms of maladaptive
behavioral process by which a person attempts to identify or
User Qualifications
examine the five scale scores to evaluate specific strengths and
functioning as psychological distress and symptomatology, poor
discover effective or adaptive ways of coping with problematic
SPSI–R can be easily administered and scored by counselors,
weaknesses across the different dimensions. The model of social
interpersonal relationships, inadequate/ineffective performance,
situations encountered in the course of everyday living. The adjec-
nurses, physicians, psychologists, social workers, and other trained
problem solving focuses on five different, albeit related, dimen-
and risky, unhealthy or self-defeating behaviors. On the other
tive social is not meant to limit the study of problem solving to any
professionals and paraprofessionals. A professional with advanced
sions. Two of these dimensions are constructive or adaptive:
hand, higher problem-solving ability is related to positive or adap-
particular type of real-life problem; it is used only to highlight the
training in psychological assessment or a related discipline that
fact that the focus is on problem solving that occurs within the
adheres to relevant professional standards must assume responsi-
natural social environment. Therefore, social problem solving plays
bility for the use, interpretation, and communication of results.
a role in many areas of life including personal and intrapersonal sit-
B- Level qualifications require that, as a minimum, the user has
uations (e.g., cognitive, behavioral, emotional, health), impersonal
completed courses in tests and measurement at a post–secondary
Rational Problem Solving (RPS)
situations (e.g., insufficient finances, property damage), interper-
level or has equivalent documented training.
The RPS scale assesses the rational, deliberate, and systematic
in the real world. It has been defined as the self-directed cognitive-
sonal situations (e.g., relationship issues, family conflicts), and broader community and societal situations.
Norming
tive functioning such as psychological well-being (e.g., self-
Positive Problem Orientation (PPO) The PPO scale taps into a constructive, problem solving cognitive set.
application of effective problem-solving strategies and techniques.
tressed” samples, yielding a total of 2,351 individuals. The samples
Three of the dimensions are dysfunctional:
measure of social problem solving for use in research and clinical
include:
Negative Problem Orientation (NPO)
by D’Zurilla and Nezu. A series of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses led to the present revision containing 52 items. SPSI–R satisfies the need for an instrument that measures how people solve problems and evaluates different problem-solving styles. It breaks down the problem-solving process so that deficits in specific areas, such as implementing solutions, can be defined and addressed. SPSI–R is useful in a variety of settings including clin-
Young Adults
emotional set.
100
Middle-aged Adult Community Residents
Impulsivity/Carelessness Style (ICS)
Translations
100
Elderly Community Residents
The ICS scale evaluates a deficient problem-solving pattern
Using our worldwide network of over 400 qualified translators with
1,020
100 63 156
characterized by active attempts to apply problem-solving
backgrounds in psychology and medicine, MHS develops accurate
strategies and techniques that are narrow, impulsive, careless,
translations of assessments published by MHS as well as by other
Adolescent Psychiatric Patients
hurried, and incomplete.
publishers. SPSI–R is currently available in English and Spanish. For
43
Clinically Depressed Adult Outpatients
Avoidance Style (AS)
61
Suicidal Inpatient Adults
The AS scale assesses another defective problem-solving pattern
understand, explain, predict, and/or manage (decrease/increase)
SPSI–R Technical Manual.
This information may also be useful to researchers who are interested in studying the relationship between social problem-solving abilities
guages, please contact the MHS Translations Department.
characterized by procrastination, passivity or inaction, and
Scientific Validation
dependency.
SPSI–R was developed following rigorous test-development pro-
SPSI–R: Long further breaks down the Rational Problem Solving (RPO) scale into subscales representing four problem-solving skills,
maladaptive/adaptive functioning.
everyday functioning and psychological well-being of individuals.
more information about the availability of SPSI–R in other lan-
Medical Patients with Cancer
Spanish sample consists of 777 participants and is detailed in the
who are responsible for personnel selection or the management of
the scores can be calculated quickly.
Adult Psychiatric Inpatients
The five “psychiatric or distressed” samples include:
military, and research. When the purpose of administration is to
tors, corporate managers, military officers, and other professionals
automatically transfer through to the concealed scoring page,
The NPO scale measures a dysfunctional or inhibitive cognitive-
The Spanish norming of SPSI-R has produced additional data. The
valuable to mental health professionals, medical doctors, educa-
easy recording, scoring, and profiling of responses. No scoring
Adolescents
708
ical, counseling, medical, educational, corporate, government,
The scores and interpretive information obtained through SPSI–R are
Format
templates are necessary and because the respondent’s answers
assessment, D’Zurilla and Nezu developed the Social Problem-
by D’Zurilla and Golfried in 1971 and later expanded and refined
that SPSI–R requires a North American fourth-grade reading level.
The MHS QuikScore™ paper-and-pencil format is designed for
In response to the need for a reliable and valid theory-based
linked to the model of social problem solving originally introduced
tent performance, and safe, healthy, or self-enhancing behaviors. A readability analysis of SPSI–R using the Dale-Chall formula indicates
Normative data for SPSI–R includes both “normal” and “dis-
Solving Inventory (SPSI), a 70, item self-report measure specifically
esteem, life satisfaction), good interpersonal relationships, compe-
cedures. The manual covers the historical foundation upon which SPSI–R is based and offers five case studies that illustrate the interpretation and use of SPSI–R results in different situations.
Instrument
namely, Problem Definition and Formulation, Generation of
SPSI–R consists of 52 items and asks respondents to report how
Alternative
Solution
Evaluation of the psychometric properties of SPSI–R among various
they typically respond to current problems on a 5-point
Implementation and Verification. (Please note that while SPSI–R:S
diverse populations suggests that it is characterized by strong inter-
Likert-type scale ranging from “not at all true of me” to
incorporates items from each of the RPO subscales, only SPSI–R:L
nal consistency and is stable over time. Further, it has strong struc-
“extremely true of me”. Likewise, SPSI–R: Short (SPSI–R:S) contains
provides a complete breakdown of these subscales.)
tural, concurrent, predictive, convergent, and discriminant validity.
25 items and can be used when a quick screening measure is desired, when time is limited, when SPSI–R is one of several inven-
Solutions,
Decision
Making,
and
As measured by SPSI–R, higher scores on the two adaptive scales (PPO and RPS) indicate more constructive or effective problem
Detailed data is presented in the SPSI–R Technical Manual.