Validating a Measure of Children's Others-Concept through Population and Behavior Variables

Abstract

Data are presented to support the Paired Hands Test (PHT) as a valid measure of the others-concept in children. This construct is defined as a person's general expectancies or perceptions about other people along a positive-negative continuum. Behavioral data are reported which replicate findings from earlier, smaller studies that children who have relatively high others-concepts are likely to interact more positively in small, unsupervised groups than children having relatively low others-concepts. Population data are also given, based upon 1,235 PHT test scores broken down by such variables as sex and socioeconomic status. Additionally, content validity inherent in the nature of the test is discussed. The conclusion drawn is that the data can be best explained by employing the others-concept as a theoretical construct measured by the PHT.