[Validity and reliability of the aggression scale for preschoolers and assessment of aggression in preschool children in Uromia]

ABSTRACT

The present study examined the factor structure, internal consistency, and construct validity of the aggression scale for preschoolers. The aggression scale for preschoolers [ASFP] was a 27-item Likert rating scale questionnaire designed to assess different subtypes of aggression [relational, physical and verbal aggression]. Subjects were 489-6year-old pre-school children [313boys and 176 girls] selected randomly from kindergartens in Uromia, Iran. Factor analysis using principal components methods was used to identify the factor structure of ASFP. Results of the study indicated that the coefficient of cronbach's alpha was 0.98 for total scores. Factor analysis produced four factors that included dimensions of physical assault, verbal assault, relational and impulsive aggression. Sex differences were significant in two factors; Mean scores for boys were significantly more than girls in physical assault and verbal assault aggression. But there was no significant difference in the relational and impulsive aggression. Due to high reliability of the aggression scale for preschoolers, this scale could be used as reliable and valid scale in educational, clinical and other research areas