The Social Validity Assessment of Social Competence Intervention Behavior Goals

Social validation is the value judgment from society on the importance of a study. The social validity of behavior goals used in the social competence intervention literature was assessed using the Q-sort technique. The stimulus items were 80 different social competence behavior goals taken from 78 classroom-based social competence intervention studies published between 1970 and 2000 for preschool children. Participants (N = 36) were early childhood special educators, early childhood educators, and administrators. Participants generated three distinct viewpoints concerning valued social competence behavior goals: Factor 1, reduction in negative behaviors; Factor 2, pro-social; and Factor 3, communication and good manners. Recommendations for research in the area of social competence interventions are discussed in light of these findings. (Contains 4 tables.)