Perception of Parents Scale: Development and Validation

This paper describes the development and validation of the Perception of Parents Scale (POPS), which was designed to measure the transformation in parent-child relations from the initial positions of authority and obedience to the mature position of mutual reciprocity. A 51-item, 4-point Likert scale was designed. Items were divided into three classes dealing with relationships with parents, mothers, and fathers. The scale was administered to 132 university students (85 females, 47 males), 18-25 years old. Analyses of item means and variance yielded a final 43-item scale. Scales of self-esteem, locus of control, and choice of an adult consultant for advice were used to examine construct validity. Analysis of variance on POPS scores revealed that students who scored high on the POPS for transformation of the parent-child relationship were more likely than other children to choose adults as consultants when they needed advice. These children also had higher self-esteem and were less likely to attribute circumstances to powerful others than were low-scoring students. Ongoing studies of the POPS are briefly reviewed and the original 51 items in the POPS are listed. (BC)