Abstract
Measurement tools used to assess the search for and presence of purpose vary widely. Most commonly, researchers have used surveys to assess the construct, and the Purpose in Life Test (PIL; Crumbaugh and Maholick, Journal of Individual Psychology, 24, 74–81, 1964; Crumbaugh, Journal of Clinical Psychology, 20, 200–207, 1968) represents the most widely administered survey of purpose (Pinquart, Ageing International, 27, 90–114, 2002). This early measure inspired the development of a number of similarly focused instruments, including the Life Purpose Questionnaire and the Life Attitude Profile. The Purpose in Life subscale, part of the Scales of Psychological Well-being (Ryff and Keyes, Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 69, 719–727, 1995; Ryff and Singer, Psychological Inquiry, 9, 1–28, 1998), is another frequently administered survey measure of purpose. Additionally, interviews, diary reviews, and historical document analyses have also been conducted to learn more about the purpose construct. The present chapter explains how these measures function, offers illustrative sample questions, and reports psychometric properties, when available. Finally, because, at times, this book features research on concepts closely related to purpose, this chapter also reviews relevant measures of coherence, meaning, and generativity.
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Bronk, K.C. (2014). Measuring Purpose. In: Purpose in Life. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7491-9_2
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