Confirmatory analysis of behavior scale for children in preschool (PKBSpt): Portuguese version

Abstract

Recent researches highlight the importance of the development of social skills in early childhood intervention and the need to use valid and reliable instruments to measure the social skills in preschool settings. The aim of study was to assess the empirical structure of the Behavioral Scales for Children in Preschool (PKBSpt), which evaluates social skills and behavior problems of children. The instrument was administered to 577 children aged between 3 to 6 years. The subscales Social Skills and Behavior Problems were applied and completed by teachers, both using Likert type scales with four levels of response. The results of this instrument show that models related to subscales of the PKBSpt have acceptable adjustment indicators and adequate internal consistence levels. These results are similar and fall within the studies by other authors with the same instrument. The implications of this study point to the usefulness of PKBSpt at Portugal and others countries which spoken Portuguese language in preschool education. Need to perform further research on particular confirmatory studies with other population and different countries are pointed out.

Keywords

• aptidões sociais
• educação pré-escolar
• análise fatorial confirmatória
• evitamento social