Criterion-related validity of a role-play social skills test for children

Abstract

The social skills/competence of 104 second- and sixth-grade students was assessed using a role-play test for social skill and four measures of social competence, i.e., two peer ratings, teacher ratings, and self-report. Simple correlational analyses replicated earlier findings of very low correlations between specific role-play behavior and measures of social competence. As a test of criterion-related validity, multivariate analyses using canonical correlations indicated significant, moderate magnitude canonical correlations between response profiles of the role-play test and the criterion variables. These data were discussed in terms of the complexity of assessing social skill and competence. In particular, it was concluded that the person evaluating social competency situational factors and age of the child were important considerations for evaluating the adequacy of social behavior.