Digital Competences Scale (DCS): A Short Self-Assessment Instrument for Measuring Digital Competences

As digital tools become increasingly prevalent, citizens need digital competences to actively participate in society. To measure these competences, reliable methods and instruments are needed. Guided by the competence areas and proficiency levels outlined in the European Digital Competence Framework for Citizens (DigComp), we have developed a 12-item self-assessment instrument – the Digital Competences Scales (DCS). Initially, we generated a set of 31 items, which was then refined through a study involving 1,976 participants, resulting in the final 12-item scale. A subsequent validation study with 1,109 participants provided evidence for high discriminatory power and internal consistency, alongside satisfactory fit of a confirmatory measurement model. The instrument also showed significant correlations with related constructs, including a digital competences knowledge test, affinity for technology interaction, and use of digital devices, indicating strong convergent validity.