The Development of a Social Intelligence Test for Teenagers: A Pilot Study.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Social intelligence is crucial for teenagers' relationship building, conflict resolution, and decision-making.
• Existing methods for measuring social intelligence in adolescents are limited.
• Developing a specific scale for teenage social intelligence is necessary.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a scale measuring social intelligence in teenagers.
• To assess social awareness and social perception aspects of social intelligence.
• To provide a psychometrically sound tool for evaluating teenage social intelligence.

Main Methods:

• The Social Intelligence Test for Teenagers (SITT), a 19-item scale, was developed.
• Reliability and validity were tested in teenagers aged 14-18.
• Convergent validity was assessed using the Tromsø Social Intelligence Scale (TSIS); criterion validity examined relationships with social connectedness, empathy, and friendship.

Main Results:

• The SITT demonstrated good internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha).
• Significant relationships were found between SITT scores and TSIS subscales (Information Processing, Social Skills), even after controlling for age.
• The scale's components, like Facial Expressions, showed significant correlations with relevant TSIS measures.

Conclusions:

• The Social Intelligence Test for Teenagers (SITT) is a psychometrically sound instrument.
• The SITT effectively measures social intelligence in the teenage population.
• This scale provides a valuable tool for researchers and practitioners working with adolescents.