General Information

The Direct and Indirect Aggression Scales investigate the different styles of aggression, i.e., direct physical aggression, direct verbal aggression, and indirect aggression.

Number of Versions:	1
Version:	Direct and Indirect Aggression Scales
Author(s):	K. Bjorkqvist, K. M. J. Lagerspetz, & K. Osterman
Date of Publication:	1992
Material(s) Needed for Test:	Instrument
Manual:	Not Available
Time to Administer:	20 minutes
Charge for one form or kit:	No

Purpose and Nature of Test

Construct(s) Measured:	Aggression
Population for which designed:	Age Range: 8 through 15 years old
Method of Administration:	Group
Source of Information:	Peer
Subtests and Scores:	Physical Aggression, Verbal Aggression, and Indirect Aggression
Number of Items:	24
Type of Scale:	Likert

Technical Evaluation

Norms: 

Sample Size:	2,094
Population:	Children from three age groups, 8, 11, and 15 years old, participated in the study. Two ethnic groups from Turku, Finland (Finnish and Swedish speakers), two ethnic groups from Jerualem, Israel (secular and religious Israelis), samples from two cities in Poland (Warsaw and Morag), and one sample from Rome, Italy were studied. Another study included a sample of children from Chicago, IL.
Culture/ethnicity:	Caucasian
SES Level:	Not reported by author(s).

Reliability: 

Psychometric information:	Provided for Subscales.
The range of Test-Retest Value:	Not assessed
The range of Inter-rater reliability:	Not assessed
The range of Internal consistency:	0.78 to 0.96

Validity: 

Criterion validity data has not been presented or published in study.

Practical Evaluation

Scoring Procedure:	Manual Scoring
Examiner Qualifications and Training Required:	None
Permission Required to Use Instrument:	Yes
If yes, by whom:	Kaj Bjorkqvist

Notes

Original Reference(s):	Bjorkqvist, K., Lagerspetz, K. M. J., & Osterman, K. (1992). The Direct and Indirect Aggression Scales. Vasa, Finlad: Abo Akademi University, Department of Social Sciences.
Other Reference(s):	Osterman, K., Bjorkqvist, K., Lagerspetz, K. M. J., Kaukianinen, Huesmann, L. R., & Fraczek, A. (1994). Peer and self-estimated aggression and victimization in 8-year-old children from five ethnic groups. Aggressive Behavior, 20, 411-428. Lagerspetz, K. M. J., Bjorkqvist, K., & Peltonen, T. (1988). Is indirect aggression typical of females? Gender differences in aggressivness in 11 to 12 year-old children. Aggressive Behavior, 14, 403-414. Bjorqvist, K., Lagerspetz, K. M., J., & Kaurkiainen, A. (1992). Do girls manipulate and boys fight? Developmental trends in regard to direct and indirect aggression. Aggressive Behavior, 18, 117-127. Owens, L. D., & MacMullin, C. E. (1995). Gender differences in aggression in children and adolescents in South Australian schools. International Journal of Adolescence & Youth, 6 (1-2), 21-35. Osterman, K. Bjorkqvist, K., Lagerspetz, K. M. J., Charpentier, S., Capara, G. V., & Pastorelli, C. (1999). Locus of control and three types of aggression. Aggressive Behavior, 25 (1), 61-65. Bjorkqvist, K., & Osterman, K. (1998). Pro Facultate (No. 4) Scales for research on interpersonal relations. Vasa, Finland: Abo Akademi University. Bjorkqvist, K., Osterman, K., & Kaukiainen, A. (1992). The development of direct and indirect aggressive strategies in males and females. In K. Bjorkqvist & P. Niemela (Eds.). Of mice and women: Aspects of female aggression. San Diego, CA: Academic Press. Osterman, K., Bjorkqvist, K., Lagerspetz, K. M. J., Kaukiainen, A., Landau, S. F., Fraczek, A., & Caprara, G. V. (1998). Cross-cultural evidence of female indirect aggression. Aggressive Behavior, 24, 1-8.
Other:	Scale available in English, Swedish, Finnish, Polish, Italian, Spanish, Hebrew, Russian, Japanese.

Contact

Name:	Kaj Bjorkqvist, Professor of Developmental Psychology
Address:	PB 311, FIN-65101
City:	Vasa
State:	Finland
E-mail:	kaj.bjorkqvist@abo.fi
Website:	http://www.vasa.abo.fi/svf/up/kaj.htm
Other:	Phone: 358-6-3247 469 Fax: 358-6-3247 491

Last updated by Violence Institute of New Jersey:  February 2007