The six cluster scales of the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale were examined for reliability and independence. Half of the 155 sixth to eighth graders completing the scale were receiving some special education services. Results suggested the cluster scales showed adequate reliabilities with alphas ranging from .74 to .83, but the scales were quite highly intercorrelated with a mean r of .54. Removal of all overlapping items from the cluster scales reduced the interscale correlation mean to .44, with only a small drop in internal consistencies. Removal of overlapping items seems to be a favorable procedure if relative independence between self-concept dimensions is desired.
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