Psychology RootsChildren’s Social Behavior Scale
Here in this post, we are sharing the “Children’s Social Behavior Scale”. 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 Children’s Social Behavior Scale
Scale Name
Children’s Social Behavior Scale
Author Details
Nicki R. Crick and Jennifer K. Grotpeter (1995) © Wiley-Blackwell Publishing
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Children’s Social Behavior Scale (CSBS), developed by Crick and Grotpeter (1995), is a 15-item peer-nomination measure designed to assess the relative frequency of aggressive and prosocial behaviors, as well as loneliness, among children aged 8–14 years. Published in Development and Psychopathology, the CSBS distinguishes between overt aggression (e.g., physical or verbal attacks), relational aggression (e.g., social exclusion, rumor-spreading), and prosocial behaviors (e.g., helping, cooperation), while also capturing feelings of loneliness. Grounded in developmental and social psychology, it builds on research highlighting the distinct impacts of overt versus relational aggression on peer relationships and psychosocial adjustment.
The CSBS comprises six subscales: Overt Aggression (4 items), Relational Aggression (4 items), Prosocial Behavior (4 items), and Loneliness (3 items, sometimes reported separately). Peers nominate classmates who exhibit specific behaviors (e.g., “Who hits or pushes others?” for overt aggression; “Who tries to keep others from being in their group?” for relational aggression) on a 5-point Likert-type scale (1 = “Never” to 5 = “Almost always”). Scores are aggregated across nominators to yield subscale scores, with higher scores indicating greater frequency of the behavior or loneliness.
Validated with 1,166 children (grades 3–6, ages 8–12) in U.S. schools, the CSBS shows that relational aggression is more prevalent among girls, overt aggression among boys, and both predict social maladjustment, with loneliness linked to victimization. It is widely used in developmental psychology to study peer dynamics, aggression, and social adjustment, informing anti-bullying and social skills interventions.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the scale from Development and Psychopathology (Crick & Grotpeter, 1995) or authorized sources, ensuring ethical permissions from Wiley-Blackwell.
- Explain to participants (aged 8–14) that the scale involves nominating peers for specific behaviors, emphasizing confidentiality and honest responses.
- Administer in a classroom setting, providing a roster of classmates and instructions to nominate peers for each item (e.g., “Name up to three classmates who…”) using the 5-point Likert scale.
- Estimated completion time is 15–20 minutes, depending on class size and reading ability.
- Use paper or digital formats in a controlled, distraction-free environment; adapt for accessibility (e.g., oral administration) if needed.
Reliability and Validity
The CSBS demonstrates strong psychometric properties (Crick & Grotpeter, 1995). Internal consistency is high: Cronbach’s alpha for Overt Aggression = 0.94, Relational Aggression = 0.83, Prosocial Behavior = 0.91, and Loneliness = 0.92, based on a sample of 1,166 children. Test-retest reliability is not explicitly reported but inferred as moderate to high (r ≈ 0.70–0.85 over 4–6 weeks) from similar peer-nomination measures (e.g., Coie et al., 1982).
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with teacher reports of aggression (r ≈ 0.50–0.70) and peer social preference scores (r ≈ -0.40 for aggression, r ≈ 0.45 for prosocial behavior). Discriminant validity is shown by weak correlations with unrelated constructs like academic achievement (r < 0.20). Predictive validity is evidenced by associations between aggression subscales and psychosocial outcomes (e.g., peer rejection, depression; r ≈ 0.30–0.50) and between prosocial behavior and peer acceptance. Factor analyses confirm the four-subscale structure, with relational and overt aggression as distinct constructs. Pairing with measures like the Bullying-Behaviour Scale (Austin & Joseph, 1996) enhances assessment of bullying dynamics.
Available Versions
15-Items
Reference
Crick, N. R., & Grotpeter, J. K. (1995). Relational aggression, gender, and social‐psychological adjustment. Child development, 66(3), 710-722.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Children’s Social Behavior Scale measure?
It measures overt and relational aggression, prosocial behavior, and loneliness via peer nominations.
Who is the target population?
Children aged 8–14 years in school settings.
How long does it take to administer?
Approximately 15–20 minutes, depending on class size.
Can it inform interventions?
Yes, it identifies aggressive and prosocial behaviors to guide anti-bullying and social skills programs.
Is it reliable for cross-cultural use?
Reliable in English; translations (e.g., Spanish, Chinese) require validation for cultural relevance.
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 [email protected]. We help others on behalf of you.
