Development and Pilot Psychometric Evaluation of the Solution-Focused Perceived Skills (SFPS) Measure

Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) is an evidence-supported practice based on a unique conceptual foundation of strengths, exceptions, and co-construction of solutions and associated with techniques for helping clients describe their preferred future. While various solution-focused instruments have been developed for SFBT effectiveness research, there is a gap in the solution-focused literature for provider-focused measures of perceived competence in SFBT that can be used for assessment of SFBT training and implementation outcomes. The present study describes the development and pilot psychometric evaluation of the Solution-Focused Perceived Skills (SFPS) Measure, a 5-item self-report instrument for a provider’s self-perceived competence in using SFBT. In initial development, 10 items were designed to capture both perceived SFBT skills and alignment with a solution-focused orientation, but during psychometric evaluation only the perceived skills domain exhibited acceptable factorial validity and internal consistency. The final SFPS measure showed acceptable model fit with good internal consistency (α = .82) and moderate test-retest reliability (ICC = .63) and some evidence of validity in comparison with measures of SFBT fidelity, adoption, and feasibility. Future research with a larger sample should further validate the SFPS Measure as a potential tool for assessing outcomes from SFBT training and implementation initiatives.