Description

The Trait Hope Scale is a 12-item self-report measure designed to assess individual differences in the dispositional tendency to experience hope. Rooted in Snyder’s theory, hope is conceptualized as a cognitive set that involves agency and pathways. This measure is used to assess how people think about their ability to initiate and sustain movement toward goals (agency) and to generate routes to those goals (pathways).  The scale includes four items each for the agency and pathways subscales, along with four filler items. Respondents rate each item on a Likert scale ranging from “definitely false” to “definitely true.” Higher total scores indicate greater trait hope.

AI/AN Communities where the measure has been used

Southwest communities

Demographics of AI/AN participants where the scale has been used

Adult caregivers

Notes on adaptations or modifications

Adapted response scale to an 8-point response scale (compared to the original 4-point scale in the original measure)

Modality and administration

Self-report; this measure is administered using paper and pencil, REDCAP mobile app, or an online REDCap link sent to the participant.

Scoring

All 12 items follow a 8-point response scale – Definitely False, Mostly False, Somewhat False, Slightly False, Slightly True, Somewhat True, Mostly True, Definitely True (1 = definitely false, to 8 = definitely true). Scores are summed and can range from a low of 8 to a high of 64.

Psychometric evidence

Snyder et al. (1991). Cronbach’s alpha ranged from .74 to .84

Citation(s)

  • Snyder, C. R., Harris, C., Anderson, J. R., Holleran, S. A., Irving, L. M., Sigmon, S. T., Yoshinobu, L., Gibb, J., Langelle, C., & Harney, P. (1991). The Will and the Ways: Development and Validation of an Individual-Differences Measure of Hope. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60(4), 570–585. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.60.4.570
  • O’Keefe, V. M. (2012).The relationship between hope, optimism, and suicidal ideation and behavior among American Indian/Alaska Native college students (Order No. 1534724). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (1319845114). https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/relationship-between-hope-optimism-suicidal/docview/1319845114/se-2
  • O’Keefe, V.M. and Wingate, L.R. (2013), The Role of Hope and Optimism in Suicide Risk for American Indians/Alaska Natives. Suicide Life Threat Behav, 43: 621-633.https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12044