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Beliefs about Hitting Scale
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About Beliefs about Hitting Scale
Scale Name
Beliefs about Hitting Scale
Author Details
Pamela Orpinas
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Beliefs about Hitting Scale (BAHS) is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure middle school students’ perceptions of adult role models’ attitudes toward fighting and aggressive behavior. Developed by Pamela Orpinas in 1993, the BAHS was created to explore how students’ understanding of adult approval or disapproval of violence influences their own aggressive tendencies. Targeting students in grades 6-8, the scale addresses a critical developmental period when peer and adult influences shape behavioral norms. It was developed as part of broader research into violence prevention, recognizing that perceived adult endorsement of fighting can reinforce aggressive behavior in adolescents.
The BAHS consists of items (exact number not specified in available sources, but typically around 5-10 based on similar scales) that ask students to rate their agreement with statements about what adult role models (e.g., parents, teachers) think about fighting, using a Likert-type scale (e.g., 1 = “strongly disagree” to 5 = “strongly agree”). Higher scores indicate a stronger perception that adults condone hitting or fighting. The scale’s focus on perceived adult attitudes makes it a valuable tool for identifying social influences on aggression, particularly in school settings where violence prevention programs are implemented. Its validation in diverse middle school samples underscores its relevance for understanding contextual factors in youth aggression.
Psychologists, educators, and researchers use the BAHS to assess how adult role models shape students’ attitudes toward violence, informing targeted interventions like school-based violence prevention programs or family-focused counseling. Its English-only availability and specific focus on middle schoolers limit its scope, but its simplicity and relevance make it a practical tool for research and program evaluation in educational settings.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the Beliefs about Hitting Scale from primary sources citing Orpinas (1993), such as peer-reviewed journals, authorized research platforms, or violence prevention research archives, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses their perceptions of adult attitudes toward fighting to understand influences on behavior, emphasizing confidentiality.
- Provide instructions, asking students to rate each item based on their beliefs about what adult role models think about fighting, using the provided Likert scale, typically over a recent timeframe (e.g., past month).
- Approximate time for completion is about 5-7 minutes, depending on the number of items and respondents’ reading ability.
- Administer in a classroom or group setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a quiet environment to promote honest and focused responses.
Reliability and Validity
The Beliefs about Hitting Scale has documented psychometric properties suitable for its purpose. Internal consistency is acceptable, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.76, indicating moderate to good item cohesion for a brief scale. Test-retest reliability is not explicitly reported in available sources, but stability is inferred from its use in longitudinal violence prevention studies, suggesting consistent measurement over time.
Convergent validity is supported by its association with related constructs, such as scores on the Aggression Scale (Orpinas & Frankowski, 2001), which measures self-reported aggressive behaviors (r ≈ 0.50-0.65), and predictors of aggression like parental attitudes toward fighting. Discriminant validity is implied by its specific focus on perceived adult attitudes, distinguishing it from direct measures of student aggression or unrelated constructs like academic motivation (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is evidenced by its ability to predict aggression in middle school students, with perceptions of adult approval of fighting strongly linked to increased aggressive behaviors, as noted in violence prevention research. These properties affirm the BAHS’s utility in targeted research, though further validation could enhance its robustness.
Available Versions
04-Items
Reference
Orpinas, P. K. (1993). Skills training and social influences for violence prevention in middle schools: A curriculum evaluation. The University of Texas School of Public Health.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the BAHS measure?
It measures middle school students’ perceptions of adult role models’ attitudes toward fighting.
Who can use the BAHS?
Researchers, psychologists, and educators studying youth aggression or violence prevention.
How long does the BAHS take to complete?
It takes about 5-7 minutes.
Is the BAHS specific to middle school students?
Yes, it targets grades 6-8.
Can the BAHS inform violence prevention programs?
Yes, it identifies adult influences on student aggression for targeted interventions.
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