Psychology RootsControl – Individual Protective Factors Index
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About Control – Individual Protective Factors Index
Scale Name
Control – Individual Protective Factors Index
Author Details
Julia Phillips and Fred Springer
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Control scale, part of the Individual Protective Factors Index (IPFI), developed by Julia Phillips and Fred Springer in 1992, is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure self-control among low-income students in grades 7-11 (ages 12-17). The IPFI, created for the Effective School Project, assesses protective factors that mitigate risk behaviors such as substance use, delinquency, and school dropout, with the Control subscale focusing on the ability to regulate impulses and make deliberate decisions. Aligned with resilience theory and self-regulation frameworks (Zimmerman & Schunk, 2001), the scale posits that self-control serves as a buffer against negative outcomes in high-risk environments. It was used in evaluations like the Extended National Youth Sports Program (1991-92) to assess psychosocial strengths in urban youth.
The Control subscale comprises 6 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = “NO!” to 4 = “YES!”), assessing beliefs about managing impulses and avoiding risky behaviors (e.g., “I can control my temper” or “I think before I act”). Higher scores (range: 6-24) indicate greater self-control. Validated in low-income, urban student populations, the scale is used to identify protective factors and evaluate interventions promoting self-regulation. Its brevity and simple language enhance accessibility for adolescents, but its low internal consistency limits reliability.
Psychologists, educators, and public health researchers use the Control scale to assess self-regulation, inform youth development programs, and study its role in reducing risk behaviors. Its focus on low-income youth is a strength, though its English-only availability, moderate psychometric properties, and specific age range may restrict broader use.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the Control scale from primary sources, such as Phillips and Springer (1992) in Individual Protective Factors Index documentation, Dahlberg et al. (2005) Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths (p. 111), or Effective School Project archives, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses their ability to manage their actions to support personal growth, emphasizing confidentiality and using age-appropriate language.
- Provide instructions, asking students to rate each of the 6 items based on their agreement with statements about self-control, using the 4-point scale (1 = “NO!” to 4 = “YES!”).
- Approximate time for completion is 2-3 minutes, given its concise format.
- Administer in a classroom, counseling, or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment to promote honest responses. Oral administration may be used for students with reading difficulties.
Reliability and Validity
The Control scale has modest psychometric properties, as reported by Gabriel (1994). Internal consistency is low, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.56, indicating poor item cohesion, possibly due to the small number of items or variability in adolescents’ understanding of self-control. Test-retest reliability is not reported, but stability is inferred to be moderate based on similar protective factor measures (e.g., r ≈ 0.50-0.70 over weeks).
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with related constructs, such as impulsivity (r ≈ -0.30 to -0.50) and academic engagement, and its inverse relationship with risk behaviors like delinquency, consistent with resilience research. Discriminant validity is inferred from weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, such as general social attitudes (r < 0.30). Criterion validity is demonstrated by its use in identifying youth with stronger self-regulation in intervention studies, though limited by low reliability. Factor analyses are not detailed, but the subscale’s focus on self-control supports construct validity. The low reliability suggests cautious use, ideally supplemented by other measures like the Weinberger Adjustment Inventory’s Restraint scale.
Available Versions
13-Items
Reference
Phillips, J., & Springer, F. (1992). Extended national youth sports program 1991-92 evaluation highlights, part two: Individual Protective Factors Index (IPFI) and risk assessment study. Sacramento, CA: EMT Associates Research, 7(2), 156-176.
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 Control scale measure?
It measures self-control in managing impulses and decisions.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, educators, and researchers studying low-income urban youth.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 2-3 minutes.
Is the scale specific to low-income students?
Yes, it targets grades 7-11 in low-income urban settings.
Can the scale inform youth programs?
Yes, but low reliability (α = 0.56) requires cautious use with other measures.
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