Measurement of two social competence aspects in middle childhood.
The psychometric properties of a rating measure for parents and teachers for social competence, conceptualized as social skills and behaviors, were studied. The rating measure was constructed from factor analyses on 4 samples of school-age children. Factor analyses identified 2 moderately correlated competence aspects, valid for both sexes and for children from varying socioeconomic backgrounds. The first factor, Prosocial Orientation, captured a style promoting positive social interactions; the second factor, Social Initiative, described initiative as opposed to withdrawal in social situations. Scales based on the 2 factors showed reliability in internal consistency and stability across 1 year, validity in interrater agreement concurrently and across 1 year, correspondence with observed peer behavior, and the capacity to discriminate between children of different peer status.
Rydell
A M
AM
Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Sweden. annmargret.rydell@itp.uu.se
Hagekull
B
B
Bohlin
G
G
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010379:Peer Group; D010865:Pilot Projects; D002666:Psychology, Child / Q000379:methods*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012919:Social Behavior; D012928:Social Desirability; D012938:Social Perception; D013548:Sweden; D013663:Teaching