Social Competence in Swedish Primary School Pupils. The validity of the RCP-scale.
Author
Summary, in English
In this report we present a study on the reliability and validity of the Revised Class Play scale in which children living in Sweden have participated. The scale measure a variety of aspects of social competence, such as leadership, aggressiveness and sensitivity. The main purpose of the study is to investigate whether or not the Revised Class Play scale (Masten, Morison & Pellegrini, 1985) is a cross-culturally valid instrument for measuring social competence.
The study composed of several parts: (1) a pilot or non-response study, (2) a child-rating study (RCP), (3) a study in which teachers catagorized the RCP items, (4) a study in which teachers rated children's social competence both before and after teachers were aware of their pupils' RCP scores.
The results of the study show, among other things, that the RCP is a reliable measure for assessing children's social position in Swedish primary schools. The social positions dhildren have in their classes are not dependent upon their ethnic background. However, the emphasis given Swedish language proficiency by both teachers and pupils alike, on the one hand, and the gender stereotypes that pupils exhibit in relation to their peers, on the other hand, provide interesting contrasts respectively to international studies on social competence and the policy for equality for which Sweden is renowned.
Thus, the study show the RCP to be sensitive to cultural differences in socialization, while indicating that Sweden is both similar and dissimilar to other western countries in important aspects which relate to the education of primary school children.
The study composed of several parts: (1) a pilot or non-response study, (2) a child-rating study (RCP), (3) a study in which teachers catagorized the RCP items, (4) a study in which teachers rated children's social competence both before and after teachers were aware of their pupils' RCP scores.
The results of the study show, among other things, that the RCP is a reliable measure for assessing children's social position in Swedish primary schools. The social positions dhildren have in their classes are not dependent upon their ethnic background. However, the emphasis given Swedish language proficiency by both teachers and pupils alike, on the one hand, and the gender stereotypes that pupils exhibit in relation to their peers, on the other hand, provide interesting contrasts respectively to international studies on social competence and the policy for equality for which Sweden is renowned.
Thus, the study show the RCP to be sensitive to cultural differences in socialization, while indicating that Sweden is both similar and dissimilar to other western countries in important aspects which relate to the education of primary school children.
Publishing year
1996
Language
English
Publication/Series
Studies in Comparative and International Education
Volume
40
Document type
Book
Publisher
The Institute of International Education
Topic
- Educational Sciences
Keywords
- validity
- RCP
- international studies
- Sweden
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISBN: 91-7153-560-8