Psychology RootsTable of Contents
Social Competence Questionnaire
Here in this post, we are sharing the “Social Competence Questionnaire”. You can read psychometric and Author information. We have thousands of Scales and questionnaires in our collection (See Scales and Questionnaires). You can demand us any scale and questionnaires related to psychology through our community, and we will provide you with a short time. Keep visiting Psychology Roots.
About Social Competence Questionnaire
Scale Name
Social Competence Questionnaire
Author Details
Conduct Problems Prevention Research Group (1991)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Social Competence Questionnaire, developed by the Conduct Problems Prevention Research Group (CPPRG) in 1991, is a teacher-report questionnaire designed to measure teachers’ perceptions of a child’s social competence among urban elementary school children in grades 1-6 (ages 6-12). Cited in Dahlberg et al. (2005) and used in the Fast Track Project, the scale assesses social skills as a protective factor against conduct problems, aligning with social learning theory (Bandura, 1977) and developmental psychopathology frameworks. It includes two subscales: prosocial behavior (e.g., cooperation, helping others) and emotion regulation (e.g., managing emotions, self-control). The CPPRG developed this tool to evaluate interventions aimed at reducing aggression and promoting positive social development.
The scale comprises 12 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = “almost never” to 4 = “almost always”), with 6 items per subscale. Examples include “Shares with others” (prosocial) and “Controls temper when frustrated” (emotion regulation). Subscale scores are summed (range: 0-24 each), with higher scores indicating greater competence. Validated in diverse urban elementary school samples, it is used to assess social functioning, monitor intervention outcomes, and identify children at risk for conduct issues.
Psychologists, educators, and prevention researchers use the scale to evaluate social competence, inform school-based interventions, and study developmental trajectories. Its teacher-report format and subscale structure are strengths, but its English-only availability and unpublished status may limit accessibility.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 (p. 122, available at http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/YV_Compendium.pdf) or CPPRG’s Fast Track Project resources, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to teachers, noting that it assesses students’ social skills to support positive development, emphasizing confidentiality and objective reporting.
- Provide instructions, asking teachers to rate each student’s behavior over the past month, using the 5-point scale, based on classroom observations.
- Approximate time for completion is 5-7 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 Social Competence Questionnaire demonstrates strong psychometric properties, as reported in CPPRG studies (e.g., Conduct Problems Prevention Research Group, 1999). Internal consistency is high, with Cronbach’s alpha typically ranging from 0.85-0.90 for both subscales, indicating excellent item cohesion. Test-retest reliability is moderate to high (r ≈ 0.70-0.85 over 3-6 months), reflecting stable teacher perceptions.
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as peer acceptance (r ≈ 0.40-0.60) and reduced aggression (r ≈ -0.30 to -0.50). Discriminant validity is evidenced by weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, like academic performance (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its ability to predict social adjustment and intervention outcomes in Fast Track studies. Factor analyses confirm a two-factor structure (prosocial behavior, emotion regulation), supporting construct validity. The scale’s reliability makes it robust, though teacher bias suggests pairing with multi-informant data (e.g., parent or peer 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 Social Competence Questionnaire measure?
It measures teachers’ perceptions of children’s prosocial behavior and emotion regulation.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, educators, and researchers studying elementary school children.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 5-7 minutes per student.
Is the scale specific to certain groups?
It targets grades 1-6 in urban settings.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, it supports prevention programs with high reliability (α = 0.85-0.90).
Disclaimer
Please note that Psychology Roots does not have the right to grant permission for the use of any psychological scales or assessments listed on its website. To use any scale or assessment, you must obtain permission directly from the author or translator of the tool. Psychology Roots provides information about various tools and their administration procedures, but it is your responsibility to obtain proper permissions before using any scale or assessment. If you need further information about an author’s contact details, please submit a query to the Psychology Roots team.
Help Us Improve This Article
Have you discovered an inaccuracy? We put out great effort to give accurate and scientifically trustworthy information to our readers. Please notify us if you discover any typographical or grammatical errors.
Make a comment. We acknowledge and appreciate your efforts.
Share With Us
If you have any scale or any material related to psychology kindly share it with us at psychologyroots@gmail.com. We help others on behalf of you.
