Preschool Social Behavior Scale-Peer Form: Turkish validity and reliability study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to test the validity and reliability of Preschool Social Behavior Scale-Peer Form, which was developed to measure preschool children's social behaviors based on peers' assessment for Turkish. Methods: The Preschool Social Behavior Scale-Peer Form is a 12-item survey that was developed to evaluate in-class social behaviors of preschool children from the perspective of their peers. The form consists of three dimensions, i.e. overt/physical aggression, relational aggression, and prosocial behavior. The data for testing the validity and reliability of the survey were collected from 239 preschool children aged between 36 and 72 months, who have attended preschool living in five districts of Ankara, Turkey. With regard to validity study, subject-matter expert opinions were to ensure the content validity, and Confirmatory Factor Analysis was conducted/used to test construct validity. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) was used for the reliability study. Findings: The results of confirmatory factor analysis showed that fit indices of the scale mainly indicate a perfect model-data fit (RMSEA=0.047, GFI=0.95, AGFI=0.92, RMR=0.042, S-RMR=0.044, NFI=0.93, NNFI=0.96, IFI=0.97, RFI=0.91, and CFI=0.97), and that the adapted version comprises the three dimensions and 12 items, that already exist in the original version (i.e. overt/physical aggression, relational aggression, and prosocial behavior). The internal consistency values of dimensions of overt/physical aggression, relational aggression, and prosocial behavior are respecttively 0.73, 0.65, and 0.73. Result: These findings state that the Turkish version of the scale is a valid and reliable instrument.