Measuring how children see themselves with the Piers–Harris scale

What is it about?

This book chapter explains the Piers–Harris Children’s Self‑Concept Scale, a widely used assessment for understanding how children and adolescents view themselves. Self‑concept includes how young people think and feel about important areas of their lives, such as their behavior, school abilities, physical appearance, friendships, emotions, and overall happiness. The chapter describes what the scale measures, how it is administered, and how it has evolved over time. The current version, the Piers–Harris 2, uses simple yes‑or‑no questions to assess six key areas of self‑concept, along with validity checks to ensure accurate responding. The chapter also summarizes decades of research showing that the measure is reliable, valid, and appropriate for use with diverse child and adolescent populations.

Featured Image

Photo by Chela B. on Unsplash

Photo by Chela B. on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Children’s self‑concept plays a crucial role in their mental health, academic functioning, and social relationships. A clear and reliable way to measure self‑concept helps educators, school psychologists, counselors, and researchers identify both strengths and areas where children may benefit from additional support. This chapter is important because it provides a concise and accessible overview of one of the most established self‑concept measures for youth. It highlights strong psychometric evidence for the Piers–Harris 2, its use across cultural and clinical contexts, and its value in both educational and clinical settings. The chapter also emphasizes responsible interpretation—underscoring that self‑concept scores should be considered alongside interviews, observations, and other assessments rather than used in isolation.