Perceptions of Parents Scales – Child Scale (POPS)
Assesses children's perceptions of the degree to which their parents are autonomy supportive and involved.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Perceptions of Parents Scales – Child Scale (POPS) was developed by Wendy S. Grolnick, Richard M. Ryan, Edward L. Deci (1991). It is designed to measure Perceived Parental Autonomy Support and Involvement. The scale is intended for use with Children (ages 8 and older).
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 22 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Mother Involvement, Mother Autonomy Support, Father Involvement, Father Autonomy Support.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Mother Involvement | 1,3,5,9,11 | 5 |
| Mother Autonomy Support | 2,4,6,7,8,10 | 6 |
| Father Involvement | 12,14,16,20,22 | 5 |
| Father Autonomy Support | 13,15,17,18,19,21 | 6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: a = Description A, b = Description B, c = Description C, d = Description 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 1 to 4. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low perceived support/involvement: 1 – 2
- Moderate perceived support/involvement: 2 – 3
- High perceived support/involvement: 3 – 4
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.