General Information

The Jesness Behavior Checklist (JBC) is an 80-item scale measuring 14 bi-polar behavioral tendencies among adolescents. Norms are available on a large delinquent sample aged 13 to 20 years. The JBC manual describes the development of the Checklist and the 14 scales, provides instructions for administering, scoring, and interpreting the results from the JBC administration, and includes tables for converting raw scores to T-scores. The JBC consists of two parallel forms; An Observation Form, for ratings by teachers, probation or correctional officers, counselors, therapists, etc.; and a Self-Appraisal Form for self-evaluation. Information below pertains to the self-appraisal form.

Number of Versions:	2
Version:	Self-Appraisal
Author(s):	Carl F. Jesness, Ph.D.
Date of Publication:	1970
Material(s) Needed for Test:	Instrument
Manual:	Available
Time to Administer:	20 minutes
Charge for one form or kit:	Yes

Purpose and Nature of Test

Construct(s) Measured:	Anti-social
Population for which designed:	Age Range: 13 through 20 years old
Method of Administration:	Group and Individual
Source of Information:	Self
Subtests and Scores:	Unobtrusiveness , Friendliness, Responsibility, Consideration, Independence, Rapport, Enthusiasm, Sociability, Conformity, Calmness, Communication, Insight, Anger Control, Social Control
Number of Items:	80
Type of Scale:	Likert

Technical Evaluation

Norms: 

Sample Size:	2,114
Population:	Most of the youth were male delinquents in two California Youth Authority institutions. The 235 females in the norm group were on probation.
Culture/ethnicity:	Not reported by author(s).
SES Level:	Not reported by author(s).

Reliability: 

Psychometric information:	Provided for Subscales.
The range of Test-Retest Value:	0.05 to 0.58
The range of Inter-rater reliability:	0.63 to 0.80
The range of Internal consistency:	Not assessed

Validity: 

 Criterion validity was assessed and found to be acceptable.

Practical Evaluation

Scoring Procedure:	Manual and Computer Scoring
Examiner Qualifications and Training Required:	Masters Degree
Permission Required to Use Instrument:	Yes
If yes, by whom:	Interested customers must contact Multi-Health Systems and once deemed qualified, can purchase test materials.

Notes

Original Reference(s):	Jesness, C. F. (1970). Jesness Behavior Checklist: Manual. N. Tonawanda, NY: Multi-Health Systems.
Other Reference(s):	Giacobbe, G. A., & Traynelis-Yurek, E. (1992). Attitudinal changes as measured by the Jesness Behavior Checklist in a residential peer group. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 3 (3-4), 345-351.
Other:	A French-Canadian version is available.

Contact

Organization:	Multi-Health Systems, Inc.
Address:	P.O. Box 950
City:	North Tonawanda
State:	NY
Zip:	14120-0950
Phone:	(800) 456-3003
Fax:	(888) 540-4484
E-mail:	customerservice@mhs.com
Website:	http://www.mhs.com

Last updated by Violence Institute of New Jersey:  February 2007