Table of Contents
Social Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ)
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About Social Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ)
Scale Name
Social Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ)
Author Details
Michel Boivin, Richard E. Tremblay, Sylvana M. Cote, and Louise Odgers-Richardson
Translation Availability
Not Sure

Background/Description
The Social Behavior Questionnaire Scales (SBQ-T, SBQ-M) were born from a desire to understand the diverse landscape of children’s social and emotional experiences during the crucial second cycle of elementary school, ages 9 to 12. This period marks a turning point, where children transition from the playful innocence of early childhood to the complex social dynamics of pre-adolescence. It’s a time characterized by budding independence, evolving peer relationships, and the emergence of new emotions and anxieties.
The SBQ was painstakingly crafted by a team of renowned researchers led by Michel Boivin, Richard E. Tremblay, Sylvana M. Cote, and Louise Odgers-Richardson at Université Laval in Quebec City. Drawing from their extensive expertise in child development and psychopathology, they embarked on the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, tracking a large group of children from birth to adulthood. The SBQ emerged as a key tool within this study, enabling them to assess and understand the social and emotional behaviors of children navigating this pivotal phase of their lives.
Two Faces of the Story:
The SBQ comes in two versions, reflecting the different perspectives that shape a child’s world:
- SBQ-T: Teacher’s Report. This version offers the teacher’s insights into the child’s behavior within the classroom and school setting. It captures how the child interacts with peers, follows rules, and manages emotions in a structured environment.
- SBQ-M: Parent/Caregiver Report. This version paints a picture of the child’s behavior at home and in familiar surroundings. It delves into the child’s relationship with family members, how they cope with challenges, and express their emotions in a more intimate setting.
Unveiling the Spectrum of Behavior:
Both versions of the SBQ utilize a series of carefully chosen scales, each targeting specific aspects of a child’s social and emotional repertoire. These scales explore:
- Aggression and Disruptiveness: Assessing behaviors like fighting, bullying, and disobeying.
- Hyperactivity and Inattention: Evaluating restlessness, difficulty focusing, and completing tasks.
- Anxiety and Withdrawal: Measuring worry, fear, and social avoidance tendencies.
- Prosocial Behavior and Academic Behavior: Gauging helpfulness, cooperation, and engagement in schoolwork.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Create a comfortable environment: Choose a quiet, private space where the participant can focus on answering the questions without distractions.
- Provide clear instructions: Briefly explain the purpose of the questionnaire, emphasizing anonymity and confidentiality. Ensure the participant understands that there are no right or wrong answers.
- Read the questions aloud: For younger children or those with reading difficulties, consider reading the questions aloud slowly and clearly. Encourage the participant to ask for clarification if needed.
- Mark responses: Participants should indicate their answers on the designated scale (usually 1 to 4) next to each question. Ensure they understand the meaning of each response option.
- Complete the questionnaire: Allow sufficient time for the participant to answer all questions thoughtfully. Avoid rushing or pressuring them to finish quickly.
Reliability and Validity
The reliability and validity of the Social Behavior Questionnaire Scales (SBQ-T, SBQ-M) for the second cycle of elementary school (9-12 years old) have been extensively studied and are generally considered to be good. Here’s a breakdown of the evidence:
- Internal consistency: The SBQ scales show strong internal consistency, meaning the items within each scale are highly correlated and measure the same underlying construct. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients typically range from the high 0.70s to the low 0.90s across different studies and age groups.
- Test-retest reliability: The SBQ demonstrates good test-retest reliability, indicating that scores remain relatively stable over a short period of time (e.g., weeks or months). This suggests the questionnaire measures consistent aspects of behavior rather than temporary fluctuations.
- Inter-rater reliability: For the SBQ-T, studies have shown moderate to high inter-rater reliability when multiple teachers report on the same child. This means different teachers tend to agree on their observations of the child’s behavior.
- Content validity: The SBQ items carefully selected to represent the various aspects of social and emotional behavior relevant to children aged 9-12. Experts in child development and psychopathology reviewed the items to ensure they appropriately reflect the target constructs.
- Criterion validity: The SBQ scores have been shown to correlate with other measures of social and emotional behavior, such as observations, interviews, and teacher ratings. This suggests the questionnaire captures valid information about children’s actual behavior.
- Construct validity: The SBQ scales demonstrate good discriminatory power, meaning they can differentiate between children with different levels of the targeted behaviors (e.g., high aggression vs. low aggression). This further supports the construct validity of the questionnaire.
Available Versions
62-Items
Reference
Luteijn, E., Luteijn, F., Jackson, S., Volkmar, F., & Minderaa, R. (2000). The Children’s Social Behavior Questionnaire for milder variants of PDD problems: Evaluation of the psychometric characteristics. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 30, 317-330.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is it?
A: The SBQ measures social and emotional behaviors in children aged 9-12, with separate versions for teachers (SBQ-T) and parents/caregivers (SBQ-M).
Q: What does it assess?
A: The SBQ looks at aggression, anxiety, attention, prosocial behavior, and more, using different scales for each area.
Q: How is it administered?
A: Teachers or parents/caregivers fill out a questionnaire about the child’s behavior at school or home.
Q: Is it reliable and valid?
A: Yes, the SBQ has been shown to be reliable and valid in measuring children’s social and emotional behaviors.
Q: What are its limitations?
A: The SBQ relies on subjective reports, which can be biased, and may not be equally valid across cultures or age groups.
Q: Who uses the SBQ?
A: Teachers, parents, researchers, and mental health professionals use the SBQ to understand children’s social and emotional development and identify potential problems.
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