Optimism Assessment

This page has the procedures for requesting materials on:

  • The Attributional Style Questionnaire (ASQ: for Adults): Note that this can only be administered in paper format, not online
  • The Children’s Attributional Style Questionnaire (CASQ): Note that this can only be administered in paper format, not online
  • The CAVE Technique (Content Analysis of Verbatim Explanations)

 

To request permission to use these assessments for not-for-profit, research purposes, please follow these procedures:

 

1. Mail a letter describing your request, plus a detailed research plan, and mail to:

    Dr. Martin E.P. Seligman
    Positive Psychology Center
    3600 Market Street, Suite 560
    Philadelphia, PA 19104
    Attn: ASQ, CASQ, or CAVE Request

    NOTE: Be sure to include your email address in your letter, in case we have questions as we might be able to send certain materials by email. Please send your detailed research plan by email to seligmaninfo@psych.upenn.edu

 

2. Include payment with your letter. This is a nominal fee to cover our costs.

  • Within the U.S.: $ 10.00 for each type of assessment device (i.e., ASQ vs. CASQ vs. CAVE)
  • Outside the U.S.: $ 20.00 for each type of assessment device (i.e., ASQ vs. CASQ vs. CAVE)
  • We can only accept payment by check in U.S. dollars, payable to "The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania"

 

3. When we receive your letter and payment, we will mail (or possibly email) you a packet that includes:

  • The assessment device you requested (ASQ vs. CASQ vs. CAVE)
  • The scoring key
  • Selected articles on validity and reliability