Psychometric Properties of Persian Version of the Devereux Student Strengths Assessment Scale

Subject Areas : Clinical psychology

Mandana Sepanta ¹ , Mahboobe Hashemi Juzdani ²

1 - PhD Candidate of Psychology and Education of Children with Special Needs
2 - PhD Candidate of Psychology

Received: 2017-12-10 Accepted : 2017-12-10 Published : 2017-09-23

Keywords: reliability, validity, Psychometric properties, Social-emotional learning,

Abstract :

The aim of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA; Lebuffe, Shapiro & Naglieri, 2009) scale in Iranian children. Seven hundred forty four children aged 5 to 14 years (384 girls and 360 boys) were selected by multistage random sampling method from Isfahan city in 2015-2016 academic year. The reliability of the DESSA was assessed via internal consistency, inter-item correlations. Factor structure of the scale was assessed by explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis. The validity of the DESSA was examined by the correlation between the subscales and divergent validity. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients in all subscales and the total scale for the participants of both genders had acceptable psychometric properties and most of the correlations range were more than .40. Explanatory factor analyses indicated eight factors model. Confirmatory factor analysis indices also indicated that items had good fit. Moreover, divergent validity of the DESSA with the Ratter's Child Behavior Questionnaire for parents was satisfactory.

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