ON THE STRUCTURE OF SOCIAL SELF-CONCEPT FOR PREADOLESCENTS, EARLY, AND LATE ADOLESCENTS - A TEST OF THE SHAVELSON, HUBNER, AND STANTON (1976) MODEL

This study is the first to empirically validate the social self-concep t component of the R. J. Shavelson, J. J. Hubner, and G. C. Stanton (1 976) model. The primary purpose was to test for each of 3 age groups-p readolescents (Grade 3), early adolescents (Grade 7), and late adolesc ents(Grade 11)-3 hypotheses bearing on the structure of social self-co ncept within the context of this model: (a) that it is multidimensiona l, (b) that it is hierarchically ordered, and (c) that it becomes incr easingly differentiated with age. Given evidence of a hierarchical soc ial self-concept structure, a secondary focus of the study was to dete rmine the extent to which this pattern held across age. On the basis o f the analysis of covariance structures within the framework of confir matory factor analysis, results revealed a multidimensional social sel f-concept structure that becomes increasingly differentiated and a hie rarchical ordering that becomes better defined with age. Overall, find ings were consistent with both the R. J. Shavelson et al. (1976) conce ptualization of self-concept structure and developmental processes tha t underlie self-concept formation.