Measurement of Temperament in Infancy

Abstract

RoTHBABT, MABY KLEVJOHD Measurement of Temperament m Infancy CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1981, 52, 569-578 Development of a caretaker-report instrument of the assessment of infant temperament is descnbed, and longitudinal findmgs are reported Temperament dimensions were selected for mvestigation from the work of Thomas, Chess et al, Escalona, Diamond, and others Conceptual analysis of scale definitions was earned out to eliminate conceptual overlap of scales, and item analysis was performed for 463 Infant Behavior Quesbonnaires filled out for 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month-old subjects Scales widi adequate psychometnc and conceptual properbes were developed for the following dimensions activity level, soothabilih', fear, distress to limitabons, smiling and laughter, and duration of orienting In longitudinal analyses, acbvity level and smiling and laughter scales revealed stability from 3 through 12 months, durabon of onenting and soothabihty showed less general stability, and fear and distress to limitabons showed stability only beyond the age of 6 months