The aggression scale: A self-report measure of aggressive behavior for young adolescents

This article describes the development and psychometric properties of the A ggression Scale. The scale consists of 11 items designed to measure self-re ported aggressive behaviors among middle school students (sixth seventh, an d eighth graders). The scale was evaluated in two independent samples of yo ung adolescents (n = 253 and n = 8,695). Reliability scores were high in bo th samples, and did nor vary significantly by gender ethnicity or grade lev el in school. Aggression scores also were stable in a 2-year follow-up stud y. Mean scores on the Aggression Scale were associated positively with teac hers' independent rating of student aggression, other measures of aggressio n, and known predictors of aggression. The scale is brief is easy to admini ster; and focuses on overt behaviors. Thus, the Aggression Scale could be a useful tool for program evaluation and for further research on violence pr evention in schools.