Perceptions of Parents Scales – Child (POPS)
Measures children's perceptions of their parents' autonomy support and involvement.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Perceptions of Parents Scales – Child (POPS) was developed by Robyn M. Grolnick, Richard M. Ryan (1989). It is designed to measure Perceived Parenting Styles. The scale is intended for use with Children (typically ages 8-12).
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 22 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Mother Autonomy Support, Mother Involvement, Father Autonomy Support, Father Involvement.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Mother Autonomy Support | 2,4,6,7,8,10 | 6 |
| Mother Involvement | 1,3,5,9,11 | 5 |
| Father Autonomy Support | 13,15,17,18,19,21 | 6 |
| Father Involvement | 12,14,16,20,22 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Option A, 2 = Option B, 3 = Option C, 4 = Option D.
The scale includes 12 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 22 to 88. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Perceived Support/Involvement: 22 – 44
- Moderate Perceived Support/Involvement: 45 – 66
- High Perceived Support/Involvement: 67 – 88
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha ranges from 0.61 to 0.80.
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.