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Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory
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About Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory
Scale Name
Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory
Author Details
David E. Conroy
Translation Availability
Not Sure

Background/Description
The Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory (PFAI) is a psychological assessment tool that measures the fear of failure. It consists of 41 items, each with a stem to stimulate recall of a perceptual set of failure. Responses for each item are on a 5-point scale. The PFAI originally contained 89 items developed to measure 10 appraisals associated with fear of failure (FF) from a content analysis of in-depth interviews of performers’ perceptions of the consequences of failing and not succeeding.
The measure was evaluated using a sample of high school and college-aged athletes and students. Item analysis resulted in a final 41 items across five factors: Fear of Shame and Embarrassment (11 items), Fear of Devaluing One’s Self-Estimate (8 items), Fear of Having an Uncertain Future (5 items), Fear of Losing Social Influence (9 items), and Fear of Upsetting Important Others (8 items). Confirmatory factor analysis concluded that the model with five correlated substantive factors and two correlated method factors was most appropriate for summarizing PFAI responses. The internal reliability of the factors ranged from acceptable to moderate. Research findings provided evidence for convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity.
The PFAI was developed by David E. Conroy, a professor of kinesiology at Pennsylvania State University, along with his colleagues 12. The PFAI is a psychological assessment tool that measures the fear of failure and consists of 41 items, each with a stem to stimulate recall of a perceptual set of failure. Responses for each item are on a 5-point scale.
The PFAI originally contained 89 items developed to measure 10 appraisals associated with fear of failure (FF) from a content analysis of in-depth interviews of performers’ perceptions of the consequences of failing and not succeeding. The measure was evaluated using a sample of high school and college-aged athletes and students. Item analysis resulted in a final 41 items across five factors: Fear of Shame and Embarrassment (11 items), Fear of Devaluing One’s Self-Estimate (8 items), Fear of Having an Uncertain Future (5 items), Fear of Losing Social Influence (9 items), and Fear of Upsetting Important Others (8 items).
Confirmatory factor analysis concluded that the model with five correlated substantive factors and two correlated method factors was most appropriate for summarizing PFAI responses. The internal reliability of the factors ranged from acceptable to moderate. Research findings provided evidence for convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
The Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory (PFAI) can be administered in a variety of settings, including research, clinical practice, and educational settings. It is a self-report questionnaire that can be completed in approximately 20-30 minutes.
To administer the PFAI, simply provide the participant with the questionnaire and instruct them to read each item carefully and rate it on a 5-point Likert scale (from 1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree). Once the participant has completed the questionnaire, you can score it by summing the scores for each item in each subscale. The higher the total score, the higher the participant’s level of fear of failure.
Here are some additional tips for administering the PFAI:
- Create a comfortable and private environment for the participant.
- Explain the purpose of the questionnaire and assure the participant that their responses will be confidential.
- Instruct the participant to answer each item honestly and accurately.
- If the participant has any questions, be sure to answer them clearly and concisely.
- Once the participant has completed the questionnaire, thank them for their time.
Reliability and Validity
The Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory (PFAI) has been shown to be a reliable and valid measure of fear of failure in a variety of populations.
Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure. In the case of the PFAI, reliability refers to the consistency of an individual’s scores on the questionnaire over time. The PFAI has been shown to have high reliability, with internal consistency coefficients (Cronbach’s alpha) ranging from .80 to .90.
Validity refers to the extent to which a measure accurately measures what it is intended to measure. In the case of the PFAI, validity refers to the extent to which it accurately measures fear of failure. The PFAI has been shown to be valid through a variety of methods, including:
Content validity: The PFAI was developed based on a comprehensive review of the research on fear of failure. The items on the PFAI are representative of the various appraisals that have been linked to fear of failure.
Construct validity: The PFAI has been shown to correlate with other measures of fear of failure, such as the Fear of Failure Questionnaire and the Test Anxiety Inventory.
Discriminant validity: The PFAI has been shown to be distinct from other measures of related constructs, such as anxiety and depression.
Available Versions
41-Items
25-Items
05-Items
Reference
Conroy, D. E. (2001). Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory (PFAI) [Database record]. APA PsycTests. https://doi.org/10.1037/t60911-000
Conroy, D. E., Willow, J. P., & Metzler, J. N. (2002). Multidimensional fear of failure measurement: The Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 14(2), 76–90. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200252907752
Conroy, D. E. (2001). Progress in the development of a multidimensional measure of fear of failure: The performance failure appraisal inventory (PFAI). Anxiety, Stress and Coping, 14(4), 431-452. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615800108248365
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PFAI?
The PFAI is a self-report questionnaire that measures fear of failure.
How is the PFAI scored?
The PFAI is scored by summing the scores for each item in each subscale. The higher the total score, the higher the participant’s level of fear of failure.
What are the subscales of the PFAI?
The PFAI has 10 subscales.
Who can use the PFAI?
The PFAI can be used by researchers, clinicians, and educators to assess an individual’s level of fear of failure, to identify specific areas of concern, and to track progress over time.
How is the PFAI reliable and valid?
The PFAI has been shown to be a reliable and valid measure of fear of failure in a variety of populations. It has high internal consistency coefficients and has been shown to correlate with other measures of fear of failure. The PFAI is also distinct from other measures of related constructs, such as anxiety and depression.
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