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Development and Validation of the Prosocial Behavior in School Scale

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Title: Development and Validation of the Prosocial Behavior in School Scale
Language: English
Authors: Christi Bergin (ORCID 0000-0001-7658-8697), Joy Roos, Busiswa Khumalo, Lindsay Brockmeier, Olive Baron, Anna Vogts
Source: Psychology in the Schools. 2026 63(6):1001-1019.
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 19
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Junior High Schools
Middle Schools
Secondary Education
Descriptors: Middle School Students, Student Behavior, Behavior Rating Scales, Test Construction, Test Validity, Prosocial Behavior, Factor Analysis, Gender Differences, Racial Differences, Instructional Program Divisions, Scores, Peer Relationship, Friendship, Teacher Student Relationship, Positive Reinforcement, Intervention
DOI: 10.1002/pits.70144
ISSN: 0033-3085
1520-6807
Abstract: This study reports on the development, factor structure, and validity indicators of the Prosocial Behavior in School Scale (PBSS) among 4264 sixth- to eighth-grade students in the United States. The final PBSS is a 12-item self-report measure of students' prosocial behavior in a specific classroom. The PBSS was developed using student descriptions of authentic prosocial behaviors. Factor analysis suggested that responses to the PBSS were represented by two distinct but correlated factors--Responsive Prosocial Behavior (PB) and Principled PB. These factors were invariant across gender, grade levels (sixth to eighth), and ethno-racial groups, and demonstrated internal consistency. Small gender, ethno-racial, and grade-level differences emerged in frequency of self-reported prosocial behavior. Validity of the PBSS was supported by measures of antecedents and outcomes of prosocial behavior. Specifically, PBSS scores correlated positively with social connection (peer friendships and teacher-student relationships), in-class engagement over the school year, and teacher use of praise (but not use of induction). Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1504458
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Development and Validation of the Prosocial Behavior in School Scale
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Christi+Bergin%22">Christi Bergin</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7658-8697">0000-0001-7658-8697</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Joy+Roos%22">Joy Roos</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Busiswa+Khumalo%22">Busiswa Khumalo</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lindsay+Brockmeier%22">Lindsay Brockmeier</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Olive+Baron%22">Olive Baron</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Anna+Vogts%22">Anna Vogts</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Psychology+in+the+Schools%22"><i>Psychology in the Schools</i></searchLink>. 2026 63(6):1001-1019.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
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  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 19
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Junior+High+Schools%22">Junior High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink>
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  Label: Descriptors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Middle+School+Students%22">Middle School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Behavior%22">Student Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Behavior+Rating+Scales%22">Behavior Rating Scales</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Construction%22">Test Construction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Test+Validity%22">Test Validity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Prosocial+Behavior%22">Prosocial Behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Factor+Analysis%22">Factor Analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gender+Differences%22">Gender Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Racial+Differences%22">Racial Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Instructional+Program+Divisions%22">Instructional Program Divisions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scores%22">Scores</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Peer+Relationship%22">Peer Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Friendship%22">Friendship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Student+Relationship%22">Teacher Student Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Positive+Reinforcement%22">Positive Reinforcement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intervention%22">Intervention</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
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  Data: 10.1002/pits.70144
– Name: ISSN
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  Data: 0033-3085<br />1520-6807
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This study reports on the development, factor structure, and validity indicators of the Prosocial Behavior in School Scale (PBSS) among 4264 sixth- to eighth-grade students in the United States. The final PBSS is a 12-item self-report measure of students' prosocial behavior in a specific classroom. The PBSS was developed using student descriptions of authentic prosocial behaviors. Factor analysis suggested that responses to the PBSS were represented by two distinct but correlated factors--Responsive Prosocial Behavior (PB) and Principled PB. These factors were invariant across gender, grade levels (sixth to eighth), and ethno-racial groups, and demonstrated internal consistency. Small gender, ethno-racial, and grade-level differences emerged in frequency of self-reported prosocial behavior. Validity of the PBSS was supported by measures of antecedents and outcomes of prosocial behavior. Specifically, PBSS scores correlated positively with social connection (peer friendships and teacher-student relationships), in-class engagement over the school year, and teacher use of praise (but not use of induction). Implications for research and practice are discussed.
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  Label: Entry Date
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  Data: 2026
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  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1504458
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        Value: 10.1002/pits.70144
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 19
        StartPage: 1001
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Middle School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Behavior Rating Scales
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Test Construction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Test Validity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Prosocial Behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Factor Analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Gender Differences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Racial Differences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Instructional Program Divisions
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      – SubjectFull: Scores
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Peer Relationship
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      – SubjectFull: Friendship
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      – SubjectFull: Teacher Student Relationship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Positive Reinforcement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intervention
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Development and Validation of the Prosocial Behavior in School Scale
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            NameFull: Joy Roos
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            NameFull: Busiswa Khumalo
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            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 0033-3085
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