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Self-Regulation/Social-Emotional Development Instruments, Behavior Problems Scale (Teacher Report)
I. Background Information
Measure/ Source:
- Behavior Problems Scale (Teacher Report)
Items modified from the Personal Maturity Scale (Alexander and Entwisle, 1988), the Child Behavior Checklist for Preschool-Aged Children, Teacher Report (Achenbach, Edelbrock, and Howell, 1987) and the Behavior Problems Index (Zill, 1990).
Purpose of Measure:
As used in the Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES): The Behavior Problems scale assesses negative child behaviors that are associated with learning problems and later grade retention, disciplinary action, and receipt of special education services.
Population Measure Developed With:
- 2479 children in FACES sample between the ages of 3 and 5.
- The FACES sample was randomly drawn from a stratified probability sample of 43 Head Start programs selected to represent the universe of Head Start programs in the 50 states, excluding migrant programs and American Indian programs.
| African American |
White | Hispanic | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | N | % | |
| Male | 343 | 13.8 | 471 | 19.0 | 363 | 14.6 | 65 | 2.6 | 1242 | 50.1 |
| Female | 383 | 15.4 | 415 | 16.7 | 371 | 14.9 | 68 | 2.7 | 1237 | 49.9 |
| FACES Total | 726 | 29.3 | 886 | 35.7 | 734 | 29.6 | 133 | 5.4 | 2479 | 100 |
Key Constructs of Measure:
Total Behavior Problems. The items ask about the frequency of aggressive behavior (e.g., hits/fights with others), hyperactive behavior (e.g., is very restless), and anxious or depressed and withdrawn behavior (e.g., is unhappy). Each of 14 behavior items is rated on a three-point scale ranging from “not true” to “very true or often true”. The summary score ranges from zero to 28, with higher scores representing more frequent or severe negative behavior.
- Aggressive Behavior Subscale. Items include teacher ratings
of whether child hits and fights with other children, disobeys rules,
disrupts ongoing activities, and has temper tantrums. Subscale score
ranges from zero to eight.
- Hyperactive Behavior Subscale. Items include teacher ratings
of whether the child cannot pay attention for long, is very restless,
and is nervous, high-strung, or tense. Subscale score ranges from zero
to 6.
- Withdrawn Behavior Subscale. Items include teacher ratings of whether child is unhappy, worries, tends to withdraw, lacks confidence, often seems tired, is hard to understand, and or acts too young. Subscale score ranges from zero to 14.
Norming of Measure (Criterion or Norm): Criterion
II. Administration of Measure
Who is the Respondent to the Measure?:
Head Start teachers.
Who Administers Measure/ Training Required?:
Self-administered questionnaire completed by Head Start teachers.
Setting (e.g. 1 on 1, group level, etc): Self-administered questionnaire
III. Functioning of Measure
Reliability with FACES data:
Internal Consistency (Cronbach Alpha)
- Behavior Problems Index Total: .86
- Behavior Problems (Aggressive): .83
- Behavior Problems (Hyperactive): .72
- Behavior Problems (Withdrawn): .77
Sensitivity to Environmental Variation:
Over the course of the Head Start year, children show a significant decrease in hyperactivity ratings over the course of the Head Start year.
Concerns, Comments & Recommendations:
- Good reliability
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