Personal Growth Test (PGIS-II)

The Personal Growth Initiative Scale–II (PGIS-II) was created by Christine Robitschek and her research team at Texas Tech University to provide a comprehensive, multi-dimensional measure of intentional self-improvement. Personal growth initiative refers to an individual's active and intentional engagement in the process of personal change. While many people desire self-improvement, individuals differ significantly in how systematically they approach personal growth. The PGIS-II was developed to capture these individual differences by evaluating four distinct skills that contribute to successful self-directed change across different areas of life, including career, relationships, and personal well-being.

The instrument breaks personal growth initiative down into four key facets that operate together throughout the change process. Growth Readiness reflects your conscious awareness of when you are prepared to make specific changes in yourself and your ability to identify what needs changing. Growth Planning involves your capacity to set realistic goals and formulate actionable, step-by-step plans to achieve those personal changes. Growth Resources measures your willingness to seek out and utilize external support, such as advice, books, or assistance from others, when attempting to grow. Finally, Growth Action represents your active, daily commitment to taking advantage of opportunities for personal development.

In everyday life, these four dimensions function as an interconnected toolkit for personal development. A person might recognize a need for change and feel ready to grow, yet struggle if they lack concrete planning skills or resist asking for help when obstacles arise. Conversely, someone who excels at setting realistic plans and gathering helpful resources will still struggle if they fail to translate their preparations into intentional behavior. Understanding your unique balance across these four dimensions helps clarify where your strengths lie in the self-improvement process and highlights practical areas where your approach to personal change can be strengthened.

Psychological research using the PGIS-II demonstrates that higher levels of personal growth initiative are strongly associated with psychological well-being, life satisfaction, and emotional resilience. Individuals who intentionally pursue personal growth tend to navigate life transitions more effectively, experience higher levels of purpose and self-efficacy, and cope more proactively with stress. Studies also show that personal growth initiative functions as a protective factor against burnout and depression, as people who actively direct their own growth feel greater autonomy and control over their life trajectory, viewing challenges as opportunities for self-improvement rather than insurmountable barriers.

When reviewing your graphical results, keep in mind that the population comparison markers displayed on your results chart are estimates based on data from published research samples, not validated percentiles. These reference markers are provided to offer helpful context for interpreting your scores relative to general research participants, helping you see where your reported tendencies sit along the spectrum of intentional self-improvement skills measured by the scale.

Please note that this online assessment is designed exclusively for educational, informational, and self-exploration purposes. It does not constitute psychological advice, coaching, or a professional clinical assessment. This test is based on the Personal Growth Initiative Scale–II (PGIS-II) developed by Robitschek and colleagues, but it is an independent instrument and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the original researchers or Texas Tech University.

References

• Robitschek, C., Ashton, M. W., Spering, C. C., Geiger, N., Byers, D., Schotts, G. C., & Thoen, M. A. (2012). Development and psychometric evaluation of the Personal Growth Initiative Scale-II. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 59(2), 274-287.