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Prosocial Behaviors of Children
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About Prosocial Behaviors of Children
Scale Name
Prosocial Behaviors of Children
Author Details
Scott R. McConnell, Phillip S. Strain, Mary Margaret Kerr, et al. (1984)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Prosocial Behaviors of Children, developed by Scott R. McConnell, Phillip S. Strain, Mary Margaret Kerr, and colleagues in 1984, is a teacher-report questionnaire designed to measure teachers’ perceptions of their students’ prosocial skills among elementary school children in grades 1-6 (ages 6-12). Cited in Dahlberg et al. (2005), the scale assesses adaptive behaviors (e.g., task persistence, self-regulation) and interpersonal social competence (e.g., cooperation, empathy) to identify strengths that protect against conduct problems. Grounded in social learning theory (Bandura, 1977) and developmental psychology, it was used to evaluate interventions promoting positive social development in school settings.
The scale comprises 17 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = “never” to 5 = “always”), covering behaviors like “Helps other students with tasks” (interpersonal) and “Completes tasks independently” (adaptive). Scores are summed (range: 17-85), with higher scores indicating greater prosocial behavior. Validated in diverse elementary school samples, it is used to assess social functioning, monitor intervention outcomes, and identify children with strong social skills.
Psychologists, educators, and researchers use the scale to evaluate prosocial development, inform classroom interventions, and study correlates of positive behavior. Its high internal consistency and comprehensive coverage are strengths, but its English-only availability and unpublished status may limit accessibility.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the scale from authorized sources, such as Dahlberg et al. (2005) Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths or related CPPRG resources, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to teachers, noting that it assesses students’ positive behaviors to support social development, emphasizing confidentiality and objective reporting.
- Provide instructions, asking teachers to rate each student’s prosocial behaviors over the past month, using the 5-point scale, based on classroom observations.
- Approximate time for completion is 7-10 minutes per student, depending on familiarity with the child.
- Administer in a school or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment for teacher responses. Training on objective rating may enhance accuracy.
Reliability and Validity
The Prosocial Behaviors of Children scale demonstrates excellent psychometric properties, as reported in Fifield (1987) and cited in Dahlberg et al. (2005). Internal consistency is very high, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.95, indicating exceptional item cohesion for a 17-item scale. Test-retest reliability is not reported in available sources, but stability is inferred to be high based on similar teacher-report measures (r ≈ 0.80-0.90 over weeks).
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as peer acceptance (r ≈ 0.50-0.70) and reduced aggression (r ≈ -0.40 to -0.60). Discriminant validity is evidenced by weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, like academic achievement (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its ability to predict positive social outcomes and intervention effects. Factor analyses are not detailed, but the scale’s two-factor structure (adaptive behaviors, interpersonal competence) supports construct validity. The high reliability makes it robust, though teacher bias suggests pairing with multi-informant data (e.g., peer or parent reports).
Available Versions
19-Items
Reference
Dahlberg, L. L., Toal, S. B., Swahn, M. H., & Behrens, C. B. (2005). Measuring violence-related attitudes, behaviors, and influences among youths: A compendium of assessment tools. Centers for disease control and prevention.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Prosocial Behaviors of Children measure?
It measures teachers’ perceptions of students’ adaptive and interpersonal prosocial skills.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, educators, and researchers studying elementary school children.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 7-10 minutes per student.
Is the scale specific to certain groups?
It targets grades 1-6 in diverse settings.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, it supports interventions with high reliability (α = 0.95).
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