Development and Standardization of Instruments Measuring Four Aspects of Sex-Roles in Primary Grade Children

Abstract

Two instruments were developed and standardized on first-, second-, and third-grade boys and girls. The Toy Preference Test (TPT) measures sex-role preference, and/or Stereotypic Sex-Role Concepts of masculinity (SRCm) and femininity (SRCf), depending upon the instructions used for administration. The Rating Scale for Children (RSC) taps sex-role adoption. Subjects were at least third generation U.S. citizens from intact middle-class, Caucasian families. Mean scores for boys and girls were compared and retest reliability coefficients calculated by grade level. The RSC was highly reliable and differentiated sex-role adoption at all grade levels. Similarly, the TPT differentiated the sexes regarding sex-role preference at all grade levels but was reliable for only one sex at each grade level. Boys and girls did not significantly differ in stereotypic sex-role concepts on either the SRCm or SRCf. Reliability coefficients were significant except for the third-grade girls on SRCm, and second-grade boys on SRCf. Patterns of intertest correlations were computed and discussed.