Initial development of the expectations test for children: a tool to investigate social information processing

This research describes the initial development of a new measure to assess the expectations of children for social situations. Responses are provided to 16 ambiguous photographs of children. Answers identify expectations for how the child will feel and what will happen to the child in each picture. The value of expectations in identifying and understanding psychopathology was investigated. The effects of child abuse and the parent-child relationship on expectations were studied. Results begin to demonstrate the potential for clinical use, interrater reliability, internal consistency, and validity. Future development is discussed with the caution that limited variance is explained by the Expectations Test at this point.