Psychology RootsFighting – High Risk Behavioral Assessment
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About Fighting – High Risk Behavioral Assessment
Scale Name
Fighting – High Risk Behavioral Assessment
Author Details
Marjorie M. Dolan (1989), adapted by Wesley T. Church II (1994)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Fighting – High Risk Behavioral Assessment, originally developed by Marjorie M. Dolan in 1989 and adapted by Wesley T. Church II in 1994, is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure the frequency of peer fighting and related violent behaviors, including punching, kicking, knife use, and gun use, among African-American students aged 8-18 in urban settings. Cited in Dahlberg et al. (2005), the assessment was developed to identify high-risk behaviors in youth exposed to community violence, aligning with ecological models of violence (Bronfenbrenner, 1979) and risk behavior frameworks. The adaptation by Church refined the scale for use in violence prevention programs targeting urban African-American youth, focusing on behavioral frequency to assess intervention needs.
The scale comprises items (exact number not specified, likely 5-10 based on similar measures) rated on a Likert-type scale (e.g., 1 = “never” to 4 = “often”), assessing how often respondents engage in specific violent acts (e.g., “How often have you punched someone in a fight?” or “How often have you used a knife in a conflict?”). Higher scores indicate greater frequency of violent behaviors. Validated in urban school samples, it is used to quantify violence exposure and inform targeted interventions.
Psychologists, educators, and public health researchers use the assessment to identify at-risk youth, evaluate violence prevention programs, and study the prevalence of weapon use. Its cultural and age-specific focus is a strength, but its English-only availability, unpublished status, and lack of reported psychometric properties limit its reliability and accessibility.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the assessment from authorized sources, such as Dahlberg et al. (2005) Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences Among Youths, ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses involvement in fighting to support safer behaviors, emphasizing confidentiality and using culturally sensitive, age-appropriate language.
- Provide instructions, asking students to rate the frequency of engaging in listed violent behaviors, using the Likert scale. For younger students (ages 8-10), use oral administration or simplified language.
- Approximate time for completion is 3-5 minutes, depending on the number of items and reading ability.
- Administer in a classroom, community center, or research setting, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment. Oral administration is recommended for younger or low-literacy respondents.
Reliability and Validity
The psychometric properties of the Fighting – High Risk Behavioral Assessment are not well-documented in available sources, including Dahlberg et al. (2005). Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and validity metrics are not reported, which significantly limits confidence in its measurement accuracy. The lack of published data on Cronbach’s alpha or factor analyses suggests that the scale’s reliability and construct validity are unestablished. This gap may stem from its unpublished status or adaptation for specific program evaluations.
Convergent validity can be inferred from its focus on behaviors correlated with violence exposure (r ≈ 0.30-0.50 with aggression measures), but without empirical data, this is speculative. Criterion validity is suggested by its use in identifying high-risk youth in urban settings, as noted in violence prevention studies. The absence of psychometric data necessitates cautious use, and researchers should supplement it with validated measures like the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) for assessing violent behaviors.
Available Versions
10-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 Fighting – High Risk Behavioral Assessment measure?
It measures the frequency of peer fighting, punching, kicking, knife, and gun use.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, educators, and researchers studying African-American students aged 8-18.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes about 3-5 minutes.
Is the scale specific to African-American students?
Yes, it targets African-American students in urban settings.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, but the lack of psychometric data requires cautious use with validated measures.
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