A Pictorial Technique for Obtaining Social Desirability Ratings from Young Children

Abstract

A procedure for obtaining social desirability ratings from young children was described and tested. It was hypothesized that children 6 yr. of age would produce ratings essentially similar to those of adults using a set of 9 standardized pictures as a rating device. These pictures were line drawings of a stylized female face, with expressions ranging from a deep frown through a bright smile. It was found that children down to the age of 4 yr. gave ratings that correlated .90 with adult ratings obtained in either the usual fashion or by means of the pictures. The ratings of 3-yr.-olds correlated .55 with adult ratings. Ratings of a set of items by both standard and pictorial rating methods by fifth-graders and adults correlated .89 and .96, respectively.

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