Parent's Check List

• Dataset Code: PyD
• Scored Data: PCLySPc
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Abstract

The Parent's Check List is a six-item scale that assesses parents' perceptions of children's aggressive behavior. The measure is derived from a 12-item instrument developed by Dodge and Coie (1987).

Each item contains a statement describing a child's aggression-related behavior; for example: "When your child has been teased or threatened, he or she gets angry easily and strikes back." The parent selects the response that evaluates how well the statement applies to the child. Response choices include: "Never True" (0), "Rarely True" (1), "Sometimes True" (2), "Usually True" (3), and "Almost Always True" (4).

A previous study of 1995 identified two subscales of three items each: the Reactive Aggression Subscale (containing items 1, 2, and 3) and the Proactive Aggression subscale (containing items 4, 5, and 6).

T-tests of means for both subscales show significant differences between the normative and control groups. The Proactive Aggression subscale is slightly positively skewed for the normative and control groups. The Proactive Aggression subscale also has a floor effect. For the normative sample, 48% of the Proactive Aggression subscores are zero. For the control sample, 24% of the Proactive Aggression subscores are zero. Analysts considering use of this measure should keep in mind that each subscale includes only a small number of items.

Keywords: Anger, Aggressive Behavior, Threat, Fighting, Physical Force.

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