Research article summary (published 29 Apr 2001):

A meta-analysis of meausures of self-esteem for young children: a framework for future measures.

Full Abstract

The objective of this study was to synthesize information from literature on measures of the self in young children to create an empirical framework for developing future methods for measuring this construct. For this meta-analysis, all available preschool and early elementary school self-esteem studies were reviewed. Reliability was used as the criterion variable and the predictor variables represented different aspects of methodology that are used in testing an instrument: study characteristics, method characteristics, subject characteristics, measure characteristics, and measure design characteristics. Using information from two analyses, the results indicate that the reliability of self-esteem measures for young children can be predicted by the setting of the study, number of items in the scale, the age of the children being studied, the method of data collection (questionnaires or pictures), and the socioeconomic status of the children. Age and number of items were found to be critical features in the development of reliable measures for young children. Future studies need to focus on the issues of age and developmental limitations on the complicated problem of how young children actually think about the self and what methods and techniques can aid in gathering this information more accurately.

Author information

Author/s: Davis-Kean, P E (PE); Sandler, H M (HM);

Affiliation: Gender and Achievement Research Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-1290, USA. pdakean(-atsign-)umich.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Meta-Analysis

Journal: Child development (Child Dev), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2001 May-Jun; vol 72 (issue 3) : pp 887-906

Dates: Created 2001/06/14; Completed 2001/12/04; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 11405589, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Child Child, Preschool Female Humans Male Personality Assessment - statistics & numerical data

Personality Development Psychometrics Reproducibility of Results Self Concept Social Adjustment Social Environment

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