FACTOR STRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCT-VALIDITY OF SCORES ON THE HOPELESSNESSSCALE FOR CHILDREN WITH STUDENTS WITH COGNITIVE DISABILITIES

The psychometric characteristics of the Hopelessness Scale for Childre n (HSC) was examined for children and adolescents with mental retardat ion or a learning disability. Scores from 261 students with cognitive disabilities were analyzed to determine the factor structure and inter nal stability of scores on the scale with this population. Locus of co ntrol and achievement attribution scores were correlated with HSC scor es to examine construct validity. The factor structure of the scale wa s almost identical to the original structure, and the scale scores wer e shown to have adequate construct validity. Internal stability was, h owever, slightly fewer for students with cognitive disabilities.