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Children’s Desire for Control
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About Children’s Desire for Control
Scale Name
Children’s Desire for Control
Author Details
Nancy G. Guerra, Virginia B. Crawshaw, and L. Rowell Huesmann
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Children’s Desire for Control scale, developed by Nancy G. Guerra, Virginia B. Crawshaw, and L. Rowell Huesmann in 1993, is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure the desire for control and the endorsement of aggressive strategies for gaining control among 2nd through 5th graders (ages 7-11) in urban schools serving low-income African-American and Hispanic children. Developed as part of research on aggression and violence in urban settings at the University of Illinois, the scale aligns with social-cognitive theories, particularly Huesmann’s (1988) model of aggressive behavior, which emphasizes cognitive scripts and motivational factors like the need for control. It was used to study how a strong desire for control, coupled with aggressive strategies, predicts externalizing behaviors in high-risk environments.
The scale comprises items (exact number not specified, but typically 8-12 based on similar measures) rated on a Likert-type scale (e.g., 1 = “not at all true” to 4 = “very true”), assessing two dimensions: desire for control (e.g., “I like to be in charge of things”) and endorsement of aggressive strategies (e.g., “It’s okay to push people to get what I want”). Higher scores indicate a stronger desire for control and greater approval of aggressive tactics. Validated in urban, low-income elementary school samples, the scale is used to identify risk factors for aggression and inform violence prevention programs.
Psychologists, educators, and public health researchers use the scale to assess cognitive and motivational precursors to aggression, evaluate interventions promoting prosocial behavior, and study the impact of environmental stressors on urban youth. Its focus on young, diverse populations is a strength, but its moderate internal consistency, English-only availability, and specific demographic focus may limit reliability and broader application.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the Children’s Desire for Control scale from authorized sources, such as Dahlberg et al. (2005) Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths (p. 122), or contact the University of Illinois research archives, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses their feelings about being in charge and handling situations to support positive development, emphasizing confidentiality and using age-appropriate, culturally sensitive language.
- Provide instructions, asking students to rate each item based on how true the statements are for them, using the Likert scale. For younger children (grades 2-3), use simplified language or oral administration.
- Approximate time for completion is 5-7 minutes, depending on age and reading ability.
- Administer in a classroom or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private, supportive environment. Visual aids (e.g., smiley faces) or oral administration may be used for younger students or those with reading difficulties.
Reliability and Validity
The Children’s Desire for Control scale has moderate psychometric properties, as reported in Dahlberg et al. (2005). Internal consistency is acceptable, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.69, indicating moderate item cohesion, though limited by the scale’s dual focus (desire for control and aggressive strategies) and young respondents’ cognitive variability. One-year test-retest reliability is modest, with a correlation of 0.49, reflecting developmental changes or environmental influences on attitudes over time.
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as aggressive behavior (r ≈ 0.30-0.50) and externalizing problems, and its association with exposure to community violence, consistent with Huesmann’s aggression model (Guerra et al., 1995). Discriminant validity is inferred from weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, such as academic achievement (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its ability to predict aggressive outcomes in urban youth, as noted in violence prevention studies. Factor analyses are not detailed, but the scale’s two-dimensional structure supports construct validity. The moderate reliability and stability suggest cautious use, particularly for longitudinal research, and supplementation with behavioral measures is recommended.
Available Versions
16-Items
Reference
Guerra, N. G., Crawshaw, V. B., & Huesmann, L. R. (1993). Children’s Desire for Control Scale. Measuring violence-related attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors among youths: A compendium of assessment tools, 120-121.
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 Children’s Desire for Control scale measure?
It measures desire for control and endorsement of aggressive strategies.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, educators, and researchers studying aggression in urban youth.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 5-7 minutes.
Is the scale specific to certain groups?
Yes, it targets 2nd-5th graders in low-income urban African-American and Hispanic communities.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, but moderate reliability (α = 0.69) and stability (r = 0.49) require cautious use with other measures.
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