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Modified Aggression Scale
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About Modified Aggression Scale
Scale Name
Modified Aggression Scale
Author Details
Kristin Bosworth, Dorothy L. Espelage, and Thomas R. Simon (1999) © Sage Publications
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Modified Aggression Scale (MAS), developed by Bosworth, Espelage, and Simon (1999), is a 9-item self-report measure designed to assess bullying behavior and anger among youth aged 10–15 years. Published in the Journal of Early Adolescence, it is a revised version of the Aggression Scale (Orpinas, 1993), tailored to focus on bullying and emotional reactivity in middle school students. The scale conceptualizes bullying as a continuum of mild-to-extreme behaviors, capturing physical (e.g., hitting, pushing), verbal (e.g., teasing, name-calling), and relational aggression, alongside anger as a psychosocial correlate. It aims to identify factors associated with bullying, such as misconduct, impulsivity, and beliefs supportive of violence, to inform prevention efforts.
The MAS consists of two subscales: Bullying (5 items, e.g., “I teased another student”) and Anger (4 items, e.g., “I got angry very easily”). Participants rate the frequency of behaviors over the past 7 days on a 6-point scale (0 = “0 times” to 5 = “5 or more times”), with higher scores indicating greater bullying or anger. Tested on 558 middle school students (grades 6–8, 51% male, mean age ≈ 12.5 years), the scale found 20% reported no bullying, with boys reporting higher bullying than girls, though gender was not a significant predictor in regression analyses. Bullying correlated with misconduct, anger, and beliefs supportive of violence (r ≈ 0.30–0.50). The MAS is used in educational psychology to assess bullying prevalence, identify at-risk youth, and evaluate intervention outcomes.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the scale from the Journal of Early Adolescence (Bosworth et al., 1999) or authorized sources, ensuring ethical permissions from Sage Publications.
- Explain to participants (aged 10–15) that the questionnaire assesses recent school behaviors and feelings, emphasizing anonymity and honest responses.
- Administer the 9-item scale in a classroom or controlled setting, using paper or digital formats, with instructions to rate behavior frequency over the past 7 days.
- Estimated completion time is 5–7 minutes.
- Ensure a distraction-free environment; adapt for accessibility (e.g., oral administration) if needed.
Reliability and Validity
The MAS demonstrates acceptable psychometric properties (Bosworth et al., 1999). Internal consistency is good for the Bullying subscale (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.83) and moderate for the Anger subscale (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.70), based on a sample of 558 middle school students. Test-retest reliability over a 4-month period was moderate (r = 0.65 for the total scale), with 6th graders showing a significant increase in bullying over time.
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with misconduct (r ≈ 0.40), beliefs supportive of violence (r ≈ 0.35), and impulsivity (r ≈ 0.30). Predictive validity is evidenced by associations with negative peer influences and lower confidence in nonviolent strategies (r ≈ 0.20–0.40). Discriminant validity is suggested by weak correlations with unrelated constructs like academic achievement (r < 0.20). The scale’s two-factor structure (Bullying and Anger) was confirmed via factor analysis. Pairing with measures like the Children’s Social Behavior Scale (Crick & Grotpeter, 1995) can enhance assessment of relational aggression.
Available Versions
09-Items
Reference
Bosworth, K., Espelage, D. L., & Simon, T. R. (1999). Factors associated with bullying behavior in middle school students. The journal of early adolescence, 19(3), 341-362.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Modified Aggression Scale measure?
It measures bullying behavior and anger frequency in youth over the past 7 days.
Who is the target population?
Youth aged 10–15 years in school settings.
How long does it take to administer?
Approximately 5–7 minutes.
Can it inform interventions?
Yes, it identifies bullying and anger levels to guide prevention programs.
Is it reliable for cross-cultural use?
Reliable in English; translations require validation for cultural relevance.
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