Mapping self-report questionnaires for socio-emotional characteristics: What do they measure?

Author(s)

Ricardo PRIMI ; Daniel Domingues dos SANTOS ; Nelson HAUCK ; Filip De FRUYT ; Oliver Peter JOHN

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Estudos de Psicologia (Campinas); v. 36, 2019-11-11.

Abstract

Abstract Whereas the structure of individual differences in many social and emotional attributes is well understood in adults, much less work has been done in children and adolescents. The main goals of this research were to specify the major content domains that are assessed across multiple socioemotional instruments (self-esteem, grit, self-efficacy, strengths and difficulties, Big Five) in research in the United States and Europe, to test them in a less developed context with considerable educational challenges (Brazilian schools). We selected the five most promising instruments and studied their structure at the item level in a large sample of Brazilian school students (N = 3,023). The extracted factors to capture the major domains of child differences represented in these instruments closely resembled the Big Five personality dimensions. We discuss the contribution of our findings to the assessment of socio-emotional skills in education research, as well as limitations of the current study, and suggestions for future research. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/10933-8 - Normative and intentional development of teacher social-emotional skills and their relationships with student achievement and social-emotional skills
• Grantee: Ricardo Primi
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants