Abstract
The Behavioral Classification Project (BCP), previously developed for children from 6–13 years of age, was extended to the preschool ages, the goal being to establish factorial dimensions of problem and nonproblem behaviors of children from 4 to 6 years of age. Initially, behavioral items on the BCP form not applicable to preschoolers were eliminated and replaced with new items. When completed, the Preschool Behavioral Classification Project (PBCP) form contained 268 behavioral items and 5 demographic variables. Forms were administered to 1,350 parents of 4-, 5-, and 6-year-olds, and 668 usable forms were returned. Analysis of the data was done by means of the principal components method in which the data were rotated first to orthogonal simple structure and then to oblique simple structure. Twenty-two clearly delineated factors which made nosological sense were obtained. Five additional factors were extracted and although they were not clearly defined dimensions, they contained important behavioral items.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ames, L. B., Learned, J., Metraux, R., & Walker, R. N.Child Rorschach responses: Development trends from two to ten years. New York: Hoeber, 1952.
Ball, R. S. Factor analysis of infant and preschool tests. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, September 1961.
Cattell, R. B.Personality and motivation structure and measurement. New York: World Book Co., 1957.
Cattell, R. B. (Ed.)Handbook of multivariate experimental psychology. Chicago: Rand McNally, 1966.
Doll, E. A.The Vineland Social Maturity Scale. Vineland, N. J.: The Training School, 1953.
Dreger, R. M. A report on a factor analytic approach to classification in child psychiatry.Psychiatric Research Report 18, 1964,22, 22–74.
Dreger, R. M. Aristotle, Linnaeus, and Lewin, or the place of classification in the evaluative-therapeutic process.Journal of General Psychology, 1968,78, 41–59.
Dreger, R. M. The establishment of diagnostic categories for the evaluation of specific therapies for children's emotional disorders.The Alabama Journal of Medical Sciences, 1970, 7(1).
Dreger, R. M. A note on the use of absolute values in establishing reliability from the inter-item correlations.Educational and Psychological Measurement, 1973, in press.
Dreger, R. M., & Dreger, G. E. Behavioral Classification Project. Project No. 1.Proceedings of the Technical Assistance Project held at Jacksonville University, August 16–17, 1962. Jacksonville, Florida.
Dreger, R. M., Lewis, P. M., Rich, T. A., Miller, K. S., Reid, M. P., Overlade, D. C., Taffel, C., & Fleming, E. L. Behavioral classification project.Journal of Consulting Psychology, 1964,28, 1–13.
Hendrickson, A. E., & White, P. O. Promax: A quick method for rotation to oblique simple structure.British Journal of Statistical Psychology, 1964,17, 65–70.
Kaiser, H. F. The varimax criterion for analytic rotation in factor analysis.Psychometrika, 1958,23, 187–200.
Macfarlane, J. W., Allen, L., & Honzik, M. P.A developmental study of the behavior problems of normal children between twenty-one months and fourteen years. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1962.
McGuire-White Index (n.d.)Instructions. Mental Health Center (report of discharged patients). Jacksonville, Florida: Bureau of Mental Health, Florida State Board of Health, (n.d.).
Moriarity, A. Coping patterns of preschool children in response to intelligence test demands.Genetic Psychological Monographs, 1961,64, 3–127.
Muuse, R. F.Theories of adolescence. New York: Random House, 1968.
Nash,J. Developmental psychology: A psychological approach. Englewood Cliffs, N. J.: Prentice Hall, 1970.
Peterson, D. R. Behavior problems of middle childhood.Journal of Consulting Psychology, 1961,25, 205–209.
Richardson, M. W. Notes on the rationale of item analysis.Psychometrika, 1936,1, 69–76.
Terman, L. M.Genetic study of genius. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press, 1959.
Thomas, A., Chess, S., & Birch, H. G.Temperament and behavior disorders. New York: New York University Press, 1968.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Baker, R.P., Dreger, R.M. The preschool behavioral classification project: An initial report. J Abnorm Child Psychol 1, 88–120 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00917892
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00917892