Aggression/Victimization Scale – AVS
Measures the frequency of aggressive behaviors and experiences of victimization among school-aged youth.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Aggression/Victimization Scale – AVS was developed by Pamela Orpinas & Ralph Frankowski (2001). It is designed to measure Aggression and Victimization. The scale is intended for use with Adolescents and school-aged youth (grades 4-5 and older).
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 12 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Victimization, Aggression.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Victimization | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | 6 |
| Aggression | 7,8,9,10,11,12 | 6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = 0 times, 1 = 1 time, 2 = 2 times, 3 = 3 times, 4 = 4 times, 5 = 5 times, 6 = 6 or more times.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 72. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low: 0 – 18
- Moderate: 19 – 36
- High: 37 – 54
- Very High: 55 – 72
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified in text.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.