Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to present the psychometric properties and individual items comprising the Children's Assertive Behavior Scale (CABS). The CABS is a behaviorally designed self-report instrument for children which measures general and specific social skills and covers many socially relevant situations which are problematic for children. Acceptable psychometric properties of the 27-item test were obtained in several independent investigations across both geographical regions and grade levels. The CABS showed significant concurrent validity with peer, parent, and teacher measures of social competency. The CABS also discriminated trained versus untrained children participating in social skills versus a placebo discussion group. The instrument is presented, along with recommendations for future applications and research.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beck, S., Forehand, R., Wells, K. C., and Quante, A. Social skills training with children: An examination of generalization from analogue to natural settings. Unpublished manuscript. Athens: University of Georgia, 1978.
Combs, M. F., and Slaby, D. A. Social skills training with children. In B. B. Lahey and A. E. Kazdin (Eds.),Advances in clinical child psychology: Vol. 1. New York: Plenum Press, 1977.
Goldfried, M. R., and D'Zurillz, R. J. A behavioral analytic model for assessing competence. In C. D. Spieldberger (Ed.),Current topics in clinical and community psychology: Vol. 1. New York: Academic Press, 1979.
Hersen, M., and Bellack, A. S.Behavioral assessment: A practical handbook. New York: Pergamon Press, 1976.
Hops, H., Fleischman, D. H., Guild, J. J., Paine, S. C., Walker, H. M., and Greenwood, C. R. Peers Programs for socially withdrawn children. Eugene: Center at Oregon for Research in the Behavioral Education of the Handicapped, Center on Human Development, University of Oregon, 1978.
Michelson, L., and Wood, R. Behavioral assessment and training of social skills for children and adolescents. In M. Hersen, P. Miller, and R. Eisler (Eds.),Progress in behavior modification, Vol. 9. New York: Academic Press, 1980.
Michelson, L., and Wood, R. A group assertive training program for elementary school children.Child Behavior Therapy 1980,2 1–9.
Michelson, L., Andrasik, F., Vucelic, I., and Coleman, D. Concurrent, predictive and external validity of the Children's Assertive Behavior Scale: Teacher, parents, peers and self-report measures of social compentency in elementary school children. Unpublished manuscript. Pittsburgh: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, 1979.
Van Hasselt, V. B., Bellack, A. S., Hersen, M., and Whitehill, M. B. Social skills assessment and training for children: An evaluative review.Advances in Behavior Research and Therapy 1979,17 413–438.
Walker, H. M., Street, A., Garrett, B., Hops, H., Crossen, J., and Greenwood, C. R. Reprogramming environmented contingencies for effected social skills (RECESS); Consultant manual. Eugene: Center at Oregon for Research in the Behavioral Education of the Handicapped, University of Oregon, 1978.
Wood, R., Michelson, L., and Flynn, J. Assessment of assertive behavior in elementary school children. Paper presented at the meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Chicago, December 1978.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Both authors share equal responsibility for the development and evaluation of the Children's Assertive Behavior Scale.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Michelson, L., Wood, R. Development and psychometric properties of the Children's Assertive Behavior Scale. Journal of Behavioral Assessment 4, 3–13 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01321378
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01321378