Raising Children Checklist (RCS)
Measures parenting styles across three dimensions: Harsh, Firm/Responsive, and Lax parenting.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Raising Children Checklist (RCS) was developed by Greenberger, E., & Goldberg, W. (1989). It is designed to measure Parenting Styles. The scale is intended for use with Parents.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 28 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Harsh, Firm/Responsive, Lax.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Harsh | 3,11,12,16,21,23,24,26 | 8 |
| Firm/Responsive | 1,2,4,5,6,9,14,15,17,19,20,22,25,28 | 14 |
| Lax | 7,8,10,13,18,27 | 6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Definitely no, 2 = Mostly no, 3 = Mostly yes, 4 = Definitely yes.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 8 to 56. Interpretation guidelines:
- Harsh Parenting Subscale Range: 8 – 32
- Firm/Responsive Parenting Subscale Range: 14 – 56
- Lax Parenting Subscale Range: 6 – 24
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Harsh alpha = 0.68, Firm/Responsive alpha = 0.51, Lax alpha = 0.68.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.