Development of the Altruism Scale for Children: An Assessment of Caring Behaviors Among Children

Abstract

This article focuses on the development of the Altruism Scale for Children (ASC). Analyses revealed a one-factor model with internal consistency of 0.89 and test-retest reliability of 0.94. The authors also discuss the implications for using the instrument for assessing the need for interventions and measuring program outcomes.

Keywords:

• Altruism
• caring
• children
• instrument development
• behavior

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported in part by the Heintzelman Endowment at the University of Central Florida.

Notes on contributors

Jacqueline M. Swank

Jacqueline M. Swank is in the School of Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education at the University of Florida.

Dodie Limberg

Dodie Limberg is in the Department of Educational Studies at the University of South Carolina.

Ren Liu

Ren Liu was in the School of Human Development and Organizational Studies in Education at the University of Florida when this article was submitted, and is now at the University of California, Merced.