Activity-Feeling States (AFS) Scale
Consider your experience while you were solving the SOMA puzzles.
For each item below, circle a number near 7 if you strongly agree that SOMA-solving makes you
feel that way. Circle a number near 1 if you strongly disagree that SOMA-solving makes you feel
that way. If you agree and disagree equally with the item, then circle a number near 4.
Solving the SOMA Puzzle makes me feel...
Agree &
Disagree
Equally
Strongly
Disagree
Strongly
Agree
Capable
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
I belong and the people here care about me
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Stressed
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Free
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Involved with close friends
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Pressured
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Competent
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
I’m doing what I want to be doing
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Uptight
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Emotionally close to the people around me 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
My skills are improving
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Free to decide for myself what to do
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Free to work in my own way
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Scoring Key
Autonomy
= Mean (Free, Pressured-reverse scored; I’m doing what I want to be doing,
Free to decide for myself what to do)
Competence = Mean (Capable, Competent, My skills are improving)
Relatedness = Mean (I belong and the people here care about me, Involved with close friends,
Emotionally close to the people around me)
Please see “Notes” on the next page.
Notes
The item “Free to work in my own way” is a test item for the Autonomy scale.
We are testing whether the autonomy need satisfaction scale might be strengthened
psychometrically by the inclusion of this fifth item.
The items “Stressed” and “Uptight” are filler items that are not scored.
To use the scale, replace “Solving the SOMA puzzle” in the directions/in the stem item with the
activity of interest in your study. For instance, if you were assessing psychological need
satisfaction in a classroom context, you might replace “Solving the SOMA puzzle makes me feel”
with “Being is this class makes me feel” or “Being in this Math class makes me feel”.
Original Reference:
Reeve, J., & Sickenius, B. (1994). Development and validation of a brief measure of the
three psychological needs underlying intrinsic motivation: The AFS Scales.
Educational and Psychological Measurement, 54, 506-515.
Psychometric Properties
The scale has been used successfully in many of our published studies, studies that have shown that
the three scales within the AFS all possess acceptable psychometric properties—acceptable
internal consistency, good construct validity, and good predictive validity.
For the successful prior use of the scale, see the following:
Jang, H., Kim, E. J., & Reeve, J. (in press). Longitudinal test of self-determination theory’s
motivation mediation model in a naturally-occurring classroom context.
Journal of Educational Psychology.
Reeve, J., & Tseng, C.-M. (2011). Agency as a fourth aspect of students’ engagement
during learning activities. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 36, 257-267.
Jang, H., Reeve, J., Ryan, R. M., & Kim, A. (2009). Can self-determination theory explain what
underlies the productive, satisfying learning experiences of collectivistically-oriented
South Korean adolescents? Journal of Educational Psychology, 101, 644-661.
Reeve, J., & Jang, H. (2006). What teachers say and do to support students’ autonomy during
learning activities. Journal of Educational Psychology, 98, 209-218.
Reeve, J., Nix, G., & Hamm, D. (2003). The experience of self-determination in intrinsic
motivation and the conundrum of choice. Journal of Educational Psychology, 95, 375-392.