Psychometric Analyses of the Positive Behavior Scale in the New Hope Project and the Panel Study of Income Dynamics

Abstract

Abstract . In this chapter, we define positive social behavior as social competence with peers and adults, compliance to rules and adult direction, and autonomy or self-reliance. We argue that positive social behaviors represent important skills for dealing with both peers and adults. Positive social behavior is not simply the absence of problem behavior We begin with a detailed analysis of the psychometric properties of the Positive Behavior Scale using data from two studies. First, we draw on an evaluation of the New Hope Project, in which children in low-income families were evaluated on two occasions separated by three years. Second, we report analyses from a nationally representative sample of children studied in the Child Development Supplement of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID). Both samples include children from African American, Hispanic, and European American ethnic groups. We report internal consistency, correlations among subscales, correlations among raters, and stability over time. We also examine construct validity by considering the correlations with related measures. Finally, we report average scores in the two samples by child gender, child age, ethnic group, parent education, and family income. On the whole, the scale is highly internally consistent. The correlations among the subscales suggest considerable overlap in the characteristics measured, but there is some evidence that the subscales represent distinct aspects of social behavior. Parent and teacher reports also indicate stability over a three-year time period. There are, however, weak correlations between parents’ and teachers’ ratings at each time point. There is modest evidence for construct validity. On average, girls were rated higher than boys on the positive behavior scales, particularly on compliance to adults. There were minimal differences among age groups. In most comparisons, Hispanic children were rated highest and White Non-Hispanic children