Program Outcomes for Parents & Families
Parents

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Measures

Name: Adult-Adolescent Parenting Inventory (AAPI)
Reference: Demo, D. H., Small, S.A., & Savin-Williams, R.C. (1987). Family relationships and the self-esteem of adolescents and their parents. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 49, 705-715.

Touliatos, J., Perlmutter, B. F., & Straus, M. A. (Eds.). (1990). Handbook of family measurement techniques. London: Sage.
Target Audience: Adult and Adolescent Parents
Abstract: This is a 32-item 5-point Likert-type scale designed to assess the child-rearing attitudes of parents and identify those who might be at risk for abusive behavior toward their children.
Administration: This is a self-test that can be administered in groups or individually.
How results can be analyzed: Scores can be obtained to provide index of risk for practicing abusive and neglectful parenting and child rearing behavior and scores can be compared to responses of known abusive or abused adolescents.
Date: 1986
Psychometrics: Not available
Subscales: Inappropriate expectations of children, empathic awareness of children’s needs, belief in the use of physical punishment, family role reversal.
Cost: $57.50 for complete kit
Advantages/Disadvantages: The instrument is written on 5th grade reading level.
Conditions for utilization: The AAPI is used in research as a measure of parenting attitudes. It is also used as an evaluation tool with the companion curriculum: The Nurturing Program.


Name: Child Behavior Checklist
Reference: Benasich, A. A., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (1996). Maternal attitudes and knowledge of child-rearing: Associations with family and child outcomes. Child Development, 67, 1186-1205.

Conoley, J. C., & Kramer, J. J. (Eds.). (1989). The tenth mental measurement yearbook. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.

CYFERNet: http://www.cyfernet.mes.umn.edu:2400 Promoting Family Strength.

Murphy, L.L., Conoley, J.C., & Impara, J.C. (Eds.). (1994). Test in print IV: an index to tests, test reviews, and the literature on specific tests. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.
Target Audience: Children ages 2-3, 4-18, 11-18, 5-14, and 6-12
Abstract: The purpose is “to assess the competencies and problems of children and adolescents through the use of ratings and reports by different informants.
Administration: The test can either be self administered or interview administered except the direct observation form. The procedure takes 15 minutes.
How results can be analyzed: Scores can be obtained for each sub-scale plus a family average and a family incongruence score can be scored.
Date: 1980-1994
Psychometrics: The test has good test/retest reliability, and stability reliability. Studies have reported construct and criterion validity of the test.
Subscales: The instrument has five distinct parts:

a. Child Behavior Checklist: ages 2-3: withdrawn, anxious/depressed, sleep problems, somatic problems, aggressive, destructive; boys 4-18 and girls 4-18: Syndrome scales (withdrawn, somatic complaints, anxious/depressed, social problems, thought problems, attention problems, aggressive behavior, delinquent behavior), plus internalizing externalizing, total problems, competence scales (activities, social, school, total competence).

b. Teacher’s Report Form: boys age 5-18 and girls age 5-18: same as above plus academic performance and adaptive functioning.

c. Youth Self-Report: same as CBCL ages 4-18.

d. Direct Observation Form: ages 5-14: behavior problems, internalizing, externalizing, withdrawn-inattentive, nervous-obsessive, depressed, hyperactive, attention-demanding, aggressive, on-task behavior.

e. Semi-structured Clinical Interview for Children and Adolescents: age 6-12: aggressive behavior, anxious, anxious/depressed, attention problems, family problems, resistant, strange, withdrawn.
Cost: $10.00 for 25 profiles of any form. $25.00 for manuals.
Advantages/Disadvantages: This instrument received two positive reviews in the Mental Measurement Index. The test measures children’s competencies and behavior problems, is easily administered, and includes a well-written manual. The major disadvantage is that the nature of the instrument is parent self-report which is subjective. However, cross testing with other components of the test like the direct observation should help overcome this factor.
Conditions for utilization: Not Available


Name: Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME)
Reference: Benasich, A. A., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (1996). Maternal attitudes and knowledge of child-rearing: Associations with family and child outcomes. Child Development, 67, 1186-1205.

Bradley, R.H., & Caldwell, B.M. (1984). The relation of infantsí home environments to achievement test performance in first grade: A follow-up study. Child Development, 55, 803-809.

Conoley, J.C., & Kramer, J.J. (Eds.). (1989). The tenth mental measurement yearbook. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.

Target Audience: Parents with children birth to 3, preschool, and middle school age.
Abstract: This instrument has three inventories designed as screening instruments to identify and describe types of stimulation in the childís home environment that foster cognitive development.
Administration: Data is collected primarily through observation in the childís home and is supplemented with parent report during visit. Each item is score as either ìyesî if observed or ìnoî if not observed. Time required is 1 hour.
How results can be analyzed: Not available.
Date: 1978-1984
Psychometrics: Good predictive validity, moderate to high stability.
Subscales: This instrument has two subscales:

a. Infant: Emotional and verbal responsibility of mother, acceptance of childís behavior, organization of physical and temporal environment, provision of appropriate materials.

b. Preschool: Stimulation through toys, games & reading materials, language stimulation, physical environment, pride & affection & warmth, stimulation of academic behavior, modeling & encouragement of social maturity, variety of stimulation, physical punishment.
Cost: (1984) $13.00 per monograph; $6.00 per instruction manual.
Advantages/Disadvantages: This measure is a good alternative to traditional SES indices. It is possible that distortions could occur due to the presence of an observer.
Conditions for utilization: The observation session must take place in the home of the child when the child is awake.


Name: Infant Caregiving Inventory
Reference: CYFERNet: http://www.cyfernet.org Promoting Family Strength.

Parks, P. L., & Smeriglio, V.L. (1986). Relationships among parenting knowledge, quality of stimulation in the home and infant development. Family Relations, 35, 411-416.

Touliatos, J., Perlmutter, B.F., & Straus, M. A. (Eds.). (1990). Handbook of family measurement techniques. London: Sage.
Target Audience: Adolescent and adult mothers
Abstract: This is a 38 item questionnaire designed to assess mothers level of knowledge of child development and the importance of certain influences on infants and mothers.
Administration: This is a self-report questionnaire that takes about 10 minutes.
How results can be analyzed: Sub-scale totals and grand total are obtained.
Date: 1983
Psychometrics: Internal consistency ranges from .90 to .94. Validity has been tested by administering the test to mothers of varying socio-economic status and number of children.
Subscales: Personality at school age, physical growth, intelligence at school age, physical health, babyís level of happiness, motherís level of happiness.
Cost: Not available
Advantages/Disadvantages: Not available
Conditions for utilization: Designed for use with programs, clinics, and research.


Name: Parent as a Teacher Inventory (PAAT)
Reference: Conoley, J.C., & Kramer, J.J. (Eds.). (1989). The tenth mental measurement yearbook. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.

Touliatos, J., Perlmutter, B.F., & Straus, M. A. (Eds.). (1990). Handbook of family measurement techniques. London: Sage.
Target Audience: Mothers and fathers with children ages 3-9
Abstract: This is a 50-item parental attitude questionnaire. It is designed to assess cultural differences and assist in diagnosis of parenting strengths and weaknesses.
Administration: Not available
How results can be analyzed: Not available
Date: 1978-1984
Psychometrics: Internal consistency ranges from .72 .88. Stability has not been reported. There is some support for criterion validity.
Subscales: Creativity, frustration, control, play, teaching-learning process, total.
Cost: (1985) $8.80 per 20 inventory booklets, $5.50 per 20 identification questionnaires, $7.70 per manual, $5.00 per specimen set.
Advantages/Disadvantages: Typically, this instrument is used to describe parenting attitudes, rather than evaluate them.
Conditions for utilization: This is a research instrument. It should not be used to give individual feedback. It is best used in cross-cultural research.


Name: Parental Attitudes Toward Child Rearing
Reference: Conoley, J.C., & Kramer, J.J. (Eds.). (1989). The tenth mental measurement yearbook. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.

CYFERNet: http://www.cyfernet.mes.umn.edu:2400 Promoting Family Strength.

Easterbrooks, M. A., & Goldberg, W. A. (1984). Toddler development in the family: Impact of father involvement and parenting characteristics. Child Development, 55, 740-752.

Holden, G.W., & Edwards, L. A. (1989). Parental attitudes toward child rearing: Instruments, issues, and implications. Psychological Bulletin, 106, 29-58.

Touliatos, J., Perlmutter, B.F., & Straus, M. A. (Eds.). (1990). Handbook of family measurement techniques. London: Sage.
Target Audience: Parents with toddlers
Abstract: This is a 51 item Likert-type scale that measures attitudes toward parenting that are most relevant to parents of young children. The attitudes measured include affection, childrenís autonomous behavior, discipline and self-control, and feelings of being annoyed or upset by their childrenís behavior. Some items on the questionnaire have been adapted from the Child rearing Practices Report Q-sort.
Administration: This is a self-report questionnaire that takes about 15 minutes to complete.
How results can be analyzed: Not available
Date: 1984
Psychometrics: Internal reliability has been reported to range from .58 to .78.
Subscales: Independence, warmth, strictness, aggravation.
Cost: Not available
Advantages/Disadvantages: Not available
Conditions for utilization: The Parental Attitudes Toward Child rearing questionnaire has been used in research. It may be adaptable to evaluation.


Name: Parenting Stress Index
Reference: Conoley, J.C., & Kramer, J.J. (Eds.). (1989). The tenth mental measurement yearbook. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press.
Target Audience: Parents of children under 10 years of age.
Abstract: The Parenting Stress Index is designed to identify parent-child systems that are under stress.
Administration: Not available
How results can be analyzed: Not available
Date: 1983-1990
Psychometrics: Adequate internal consistency, questionable validity.
Subscales: This instrument has two subscales:

a. Parent domain: Depression, attachment, restriction of role, sense of competence, sense of isolation, relationship with spouse, parental health.

b. Child domain: Adaptability, acceptability, demandingness, mood, distractibility/hyperactivity.
Cost: (1987) $3.50/reusable booklet, $.75/self score answer sheet. $27.50/specimen set, $14.50/manual, $109.00/computer scoring and interpretive report.
Advantages/Disadvantages: Not available
Conditions for utilization: Recommended for use as a screening instrument for Caucasian families.


Name: The Problem Situations Scale
Reference: Christensen, A., Phillips, S., Glasgow, R. E., & Johnson, S.M. (1983). Parental characteristics and interactional dysfunction in families with child behavior problems: A preliminary investigation. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 11 (1), 153-166.

Touliatos, J., Perlmutter, B.F., & Straus, M. A. (Eds.). (1990). Handbook of family measurement techniques. London: Sage.
Target Audience: Parents
Abstract: The Problem Situations Scale consists of 12 short descriptions of common behavior problems. Parents choose 1 of 8 possible solutions for each situation. The solutions are balanced between positive and negative responses.
Administration: This is a self-report questionnaire.
How results can be analyzed: Each parent receives a sore that is the sum of positive and negative responses.
Date: 1983
Psychometrics: Not available
Subscales: Not available
Cost: Not available
Advantages/Disadvantages: Not available
Conditions for utilization: Not available



Measures

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