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Problem-Solving Before Instruction (PS-I): A Protocol for Assessment and Intervention in Students with Different Abilities
Published on: September 11, 2021
Psychometric testing of the children's resourcefulness scale
Jaclene A Zauszniewski1, Abir K Bekhet, Elizabeth Bonham
1Community Health Nursing, Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. jaz@case.edu
Summary
A new 10-item scale effectively measures resourcefulness in children. This tool can help identify children at risk for depression by assessing their problem-solving and delay of gratification skills.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Mental Health Assessment
Background:
- Resourcefulness is linked to reduced depression in adults.
- Limited research exists on resourcefulness in children, partly due to a lack of validated measurement tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the reliability and validity of a resourcefulness scale for school-aged children.
- To refine the Children's Self-Control Scale (C-SCS) into a more concise measure.
Main Methods:
- A 32-item Children's Self-Control Scale (C-SCS) was administered to 122 school-aged children.
- Standard scale refinement techniques and factor analysis were employed.
Main Results:
- A 10-item scale demonstrated good reliability (alpha = .72).
- The refined scale showed strong correlation with the original C-SCS (r = .86).
- Significant correlations were found with positive thoughts (r = .38) and depressive symptoms (r = -.32).
- Factor analysis identified two key components: problem-solving and delay of gratification.
Conclusions:
- The 10-item scale is a reliable and valid measure of resourcefulness in children.
- This scale can aid in identifying children lacking resourcefulness and potentially at risk for depression.
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