Abstract
The following section brings together measures of children’s social skills from all possible domains. Some of the most popular measures of children’s social skills are reports by others, such as parents, teachers, and peers. For information on the self-perception of social skills, self-report instruments may be administered. As this review demonstrates, these types of measures are often standardized and convenient to administer and score. Their formats include rating scales, questionnaires, interviews, and analogue observations. Both the clinician and researcher will find utility in the measures reviewed.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Molly Adrian, and Agnieszka K. Serwik Department of Psychology, 5742 Little Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469.
- 2.
Michelle S. Rivera, Molly Adrian, and Elizabeth J. Shepherd Department of Psychology, 5742 Little Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469.
- 3.
Elizabeth J. Shepherd, Michelle S. Rivera, Lauren J. Holleb, and Alana M. Burns Department of Psychology, 5742 Little Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469.
- 4.
Michelle S. Rivera, Molly Adrian, Jessica Fales, and Alana M. Burns Department of Psychology, 5742 Little Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469.
- 5.
Elizabeth J. Shepherd, Agnieszka K. Serwik, and Lauren J. Holleb Department of Psychology, 5742 Little Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469.
References
Abikoff, H., Martin, D., & Gittelman, R. (1985). Social Interaction Observation Code. Psychopharmacology Bulletin, 21, 869–873.
Achenbach, T. M. (1991). Manual for the Teacher’s Report Form and 1991 Profile. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry.
Achenbach, T. M., & Edelbrock, C. (1986). Manual for the Teacher’s Report Form and Teacher Version of the Child Behavior Profile. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry.
Achenbach, T. M. (1991). Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist/4–18 and 1991 Profile. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry.
Achenbach, T. M., & Edelbrock, C. (1983). Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist/4-18 and Revised Child Behavior Profile. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry.
Asher, S. R., Singleton, L. C., Tinsley, B. R., & Hymel, S. (1979). A reliable sociometric measure for preschool children. Developmental Psychology, 15, 443–444.
Ballard, K. D. (1981). An observation procedure for assessing children’s social behaviors in free play settings. Educational Psychology, 1, 185–199.
Behar, L., & Stringfield, S. (1974). A behavior rating scale for the preschool child. Developmental Psychology, 10, 601–10.
Bierman, K. L., & Furman, W. (1984). The effects of social skills training and peer involvement on the social adjustment of preadolescents. Child Development, 55, 151–162.
Bierman, K. L., Miller, C. L., & Stabb, S. D. (1987). Improving the social behavior and peer acceptance of rejected boys: Effects of social skill training with instructions and prohibitions. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 194–200.
Bierman, K. L., Smoot, D. L., & Aumiller, K. (1993). Characteristics of aggressive-rejected, aggressive (nonrejected), and rejected (nonaggressive) boys. Child Development, 64, 139–151.
Bower, E. M. (1969). Early identification of emotionally handicapped children in school (2nd ed.). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
Carlson, C. L., Lahey, B. B., & Neeper, R. (1984). Peer assessment of the social behavior of accepted, rejected, and neglected children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 12, 189–198.
Carney, A. G., & Merrell, K. W. (2002). Reliability and comparability of a Spanish-language form of the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales. Psychology in the Schools, 39, 367–373.
Coie, J. D., & Dodge, K. A. (1983). Continuities and changes in children’s social status: A 5-year perspective. Merrill- Palmer Quarterly, 29, 261–281.
Coie, J. D., & Dodge, K. A. (1988). Multiple sources of data on social behavior and social status in the school: A cross-age comparison. Child Development, 59, 815–829.
Coie, J. D., Dodge, K. A., & Coppotelli, H. (1982). Dimensions and types of social status: A cross-age perspective. Developmental Psychology, 18, 557–570.
Coleman, N., Hare, D. J., Farrell, P., & Van Manen, T. G. (2008). Evaluation of the Social Cognitive Skills Test with children with autistic spectrum disorders. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 12, 48–57.
Conduct Problems Prevention Research Group (1992). A developmental and clinical model for the prevention of conduct disorder: The Fast Track program. Developmental and Psychopathology, 4, 509–527.
Conduct Problems Prevention Research Group (1999). Initial impact of the Fast Track prevention trial for conduct problems: I. The high-risk sample. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 67, 631–647.
Conners, C. K. (1989), Conners’ Rating Scales Manual. North Tonawanda, NY: Multi-Health Systems.
Connolly, J. A. (1983). A review of sociometric procedures in the assessment of social competence in children. Applied Research in Mental Retardation, 4, 315–322.
Connolly, J., & Doyle, A. B. (1981). Assessment of social competence in preschoolers: Teachers versus peers. Developmental Psychology, 17, 454–462.
Corrigan, A. (2003a). Social Problem Solving Scale, Grade 1/Year 2 (Fast Track Project Technical Report). Retrieved from the Fast Track Project Web site: http://www.fasttrack.org.
Corrigan, A. (2003b). Social Problem Solving Scale, Grade 2/Year 3 (Fast Track Project Technical Report). Retrieved from the Fast Track Project Web site: http://www.fasttrack.org.
Crick, N. R., & Grotpeter, J. K. (1995). Relational aggression, gender, and social psychological adjustment. Child Development, 66, 710–722.
Diperna, J. C., & Volpe, R. J. (2006). Self-report on the Social Skills Rating System: Analysis of reliability and validity for an elementary sample. Psychology in the Schools, 42, 345–356.
Dodge, K. A. (1980). Social cognition and children’s aggressive behavior. Child Development, 51, 162–170.
Dodge, K. A. (1983). Behavioral antecedents of peer social status. Child Development, 54, 1386–1399.
Dodge, K. A., Coie, J. D., & Brakke, N. P. (1982). Behavior patterns of socially rejected and neglected preadolescents: The roles of social approach and aggression. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 10, 389–410.
Dodge, K. A., Schlundt, D. C., Schocken, I., & Delugach, J. D. (1983). Social competence and children’s sociometric status: The role of peer group entry strategies. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 29, 309–336.
Doll, B., & Elliot, S. N. (1994). Representativeness of observed preschool social behaviors: How many data are enough? Journal of Early Intervention, 18, 227–238.
Dougherty, B. S., Fowler, S. A., & Paine, S. C. (1985). The use of peer monitors to reduce negative interaction during recess. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 18, 141–153.
Eisler, R. M., Hersen, M., Miller, P. M., & Blanchard, E. B. (1975). Situational determinants of assertive behaviors. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 43, 330–340.
El Hassan, K. (1999). Validation of the Harter Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance with Lebanese children. Social Behavior and Personality, 27, 339–354.
Fantuzzo, J. W., McDermott, P. A., Manz, P. H., Hampton, V. R., & Burdick, N. A. (1996). The Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance: Does it work with low income urban children? Child Development, 67, 1071–1084.
Foster, S. L., Inderbitzen, H. M., & Nangle, D. W. (1993). Assessing acceptance and social skills in childhood: Current issues. Behavior Modification, 17, 255–286.
Fowler, P. C., & Park, R. M. (1979). Factor structure of the Preschool Behavior Questionnaire in a normal population. Psychological Reports, 45, 599–606.
Gresham, F. M. (1981). Validity of social skills measures for assessing social competence in low-status children: A multivariate investigation. Developmental Psychology, 17, 390–398.
Greenwood, C. R., Todd, N. M., Hops, H., & Walker, H. M. (1982). Behavior change targets in the assessment and treatment of socially withdrawn preschool children. Behavioral Assessment, 4, 273–297.
Greenwood, C. R., Walker, H. M., Todd, N. M., & Hops, H. (1979). Selecting a cost-effective screening measure for the assessment of preschool social withdrawal. Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis, 12, 639–652.
Greenwood, C. R., Walker, H. M., Todd, N. M., & Hops, H. (1981). Normative and descriptive analysis of preschool free play social interaction rates. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 6, 343–367.
Hazen, N. L., & Black, B. (1989). Preschool peer communication skills: The role of social status and interaction context. Child Development, 60, 867–876.
Hoge, R. D., Meginbir, L., Khan, Y., & Weatherall, D. (1985). A multitrait-multimethod analysis of the Preschool Behavior Questionnaire. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 13, 119–127.
Hops, H., Beickel, S. L., & Walker, H. M. (1976). CLASS (Contingencies for Learning Academic and Social Skills) program consultant manual. Delray Beach, FL: Educational Achievement Systems.
Hops, H., Todd, N. M., Garrett, B., & Stokes, J. (1975). The Peer Interaction Coding System (PIRS). Unpublished manuscript, Center at Oregon for Research in the Behavioral Education of the Handicapped, University of Oregon.
Hughes, J. N., Cavell, T. A., & Grossman, P. B. (1997). A positive view of self: Risk or protection for aggressive children? Development and Psychopathology, 9, 75–94.
Kazdin, A. E., Esveldt-Dawson, K., Sherick, R. B., & Colbus, D. (1985). Assessment of overt behavior and childhood depression among psychiatrically disturbed children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 53, 201–210.
Kazdin, A. E., Matson, J., & Esveldt-Dawson, K. (1984). The relationship of role-play assessment of children’s social skills to multiple measures of social competence. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 22, 129–139.
Lachar, D. (2004). Personality Inventory for Children, Second Edition (PIC-2), Personality Inventory for Youth (PIY), and Student Behavior Survey (SBS). In M. J. Hilsenroth & Segal, D. L. (Vol. Ed.), Comprehensive handbook of psychological assessment: Personality assessment (Vol. 2., pp. 192–212.. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Ladd, G. (1981). Effectiveness of a social learning model for enhancing children’s social interaction and peer acceptance. Child Development, 52, 171–178.
Masten, A. S., Morison, P., & Pellegrini, D. S. (1985). A revised class play method of peer assessment. Developmental Psychology, 21, 523–533.
Matson, J. L., Compton, L. S., & Sevin, J. A. (1991). Comparison and item analysis of the MESSY for autistic and normal children. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 12, 361–369.
Matson, J. L., Heinze, A., Helsel, W. J., Kapperman, G., & Rotari, A. F. (1986). Assessing social behaviors in the visually handicapped: The Matson Evaluation of Social Skills with Youngsters (MESSY). Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 15, 78–87.
Matson, J. L., Macklin, G. F., & Helsel, W. J. (1985). Psychometric properties of the Matson Evaluation of Social Skills for Youngsters (MESSY) with emotional problems and self concept in deaf children. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 16, 117–123.
McConnell, S. R., & Odom, S. L. (1986). Sociometrics: Peer referenced measures and the assessment of social competence. In P. S. Strain, M. J. Guralnick, & H. M. Walker (Eds.), Children’s social behavior: Development, assessment, and modification. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
McConnell, S. R., & Odom, S. L. (1999). A multimeasure performance-based assessment of social competence in young children with disabilities. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 19, 67–74.
Merrell, K. W. (2001). Assessment of children’s social skills: Recent developments, best practices, and new directions. Exceptionality, 9, 3–18.
Mize, J., & Cox, R. A. (1990). Social knowledge and social competence: Number and quality of strategies as predictors of peer behavior. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 151, 117–127.
Odom, S. L., & McConnell, S. R. (1985). A performance-based conceptualization of social competence of handicapped preschool children: Implications for assessment. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 4, 21–28.
Ollendick, T. H. (1981). Assessment of social interaction skills in school children. Behavioral Counseling Quarterly, 1, 227–243.
Ollendick, T. H., Hart, K. J., & Francis, G (1985). Social validation of the Revised Behavioral Assertiveness Test for Children (BAT-CR). Child and Family Behavior Therapy, 7, 18–33.
Ollendick, T. H., Meador, A. E., & Villanis, C. (1986). Relationship between the Children’s Assertiveness Inventory (CAI) and the Revised Behavioral Assertiveness Test for Children (BAT-CR). Child and Family Behavior Therapy, 8, 27–36.
Pekarik, E. G., Prinz, R. J., Liebert, D. E., Weintraub, S., & Neale, J. M. (1976). The Pupil Evaluation Inventory: A sociometric technique for assessing children’s social behavior. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 4, 83–97.
Piers, E. V., & Harris, D. B. (1964). Age and other correlates of self-concept in children. Journal of Educational Psychology, 55, 91–95.
Pope, A. W., Mumma, G. H., & Bierman, K. L. (1991). Aggression, hyperactivity, and inattention-immaturity: Behavior dimensions associated with peer rejection in elementary school boys. Developmental Psychology, 27, 663–671.
Putallaz, M. (1983). Predicting children’s sociometric status from their behavior. Child Development, 54, 1417–1426.
Ray, G. E., Cohen, R., & Secrist, M. E. (1995). Best friend networks of children across settings. Child Study Journal, 25, 169–188.
Reynolds, C. R., & Kamphaus, R. W. (1992). Behavior Assessment System for Children [Manual]Circle Pines, MN: AGS Publishing.
Reynolds, C. R., & Kamphaus, R. W. (1998). Behavior Assessment System for Children-Revised [Manual]. Circle Pines, MN: AGS Publishing.
Rubin, K. H. (1985). The Play Observation Scale (POS). Waterloo: University of Waterloo.
Rutter, M. (1967). A children’s behavior questionnaire for completion by teachers: Preliminary findings. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 8, 1–11.
Rydell, A. M., Hagekull, B., & Bohlin, G. (1997). Measurement of two social competence aspects in middle childhood. Developmental Psychology, 33, 824–833.
Strain, P. S., Steele, P., Ellis, T., & Timm, M. A. (1982). Long-term effects of oppositional child treatment with mothers as therapists and therapist trainers. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 15, 163–169.
Strain, P. S., & Timm, M. A. (1974). An experimental analysis of social interaction between a behaviorally disordered preschool child and her classroom peers. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 7, 583–590.
Tremblay, R. E., Desmarais-Gervais, L., Gagnon, C., & Charlebois, P. (1987). The Preschool Behavior Questionnaire: Stability of its factor structure between cultures, sexes, ages, and socioeconomic classes. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 10, 467–484.
Vaughn, B. E., & Waters, E. (1981). Attention structure, sociometric status, and dominance: Interrelations, behavioral correlates, and relationships to social competence. Developmental Psychology, 17, 275–288.
Walker, H. M., Greenwood, C. R., Hops, H., & Todd, N. M. (1979). Differential effects of reinforcing topographic components of social interaction: Analysis and direct replication. Behavior Modification, 3, 291–321.
Walker H., & Severson, H. (1990). Systematic Screening for Behavior Disorders (SSBD). Longmont, CO: Sopris West.
Wilson, B. J. (2006). The entry behavior of aggressive/rejected children: The contributions of status and temperament. Social Development, 15, 463–479.
Wingenfeld, S. A., Lachar, D., Gruber, C. P., & Kline, R. B. (1998). Development of the teacher-informant Student Behavior Survey. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 16, 226–249.
Yeates, K. O., Schultz, L. H., & Selman, R. L. (1991). The development of Interpersonal Negotiation Strategies in Thought and Action: A social-cognitive link to behavioral adjustment and social status. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 37, 369–405.
Yugar, J. M., & Shapiro, E. S. (2001). Elementary children’s school friendships: A comparison of peer assessment methodologies. School Psychology Review, 30, 568–585.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Serwik, A.K., Holleb, L.J., Fales, J. (2010). Child Measures. In: Nangle, D., Hansen, D., Erdley, C., Norton, P. (eds) Practitioner's Guide to Empirically Based Measures of Social Skills. ABCT Clinical Assessment Series. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0609-0_16
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0609-0_16
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-0608-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-0609-0
eBook Packages: Behavioral ScienceBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)