Self-Report of Close Friends – Revised

The Self Report of Close Friends was developed for the Seattle Social Development Project (O'Donnell, Hawkins & Abbott, 1995). A modified version was used by Fast Track in year 8.  Further revisions were implemented in year 9 and that revised version was used through year 13.

Abstract: The Self Report of Close Friends measure is a 41-item instrument developed for the Seattle Social Development Project (O'Donnell, Hawkins, & Abbott, 1995). An adapted version of this measure was added to the child instrument battery in study Year 8. This adapted version was revised in Year 9 to Self Report of Close Friends-Revised and contains 84 itemsThe measure assesses characteristics of students' best friends relationships. Students are asked to identify two best friends and answer questions regarding thoughts and feelings about the friend, commitment to the friend, and behaviors by the friend including delinquency, substance use, school motivation and parental attitudes toward the friend. Students are also asked to answer questions about these characteristics for their peer group in general. The items in this instrument can be grouped to assess four different constructs of children's friendships for their first and second best friends and their peer group in general (Bonding , Involvement, Good Behaviors, and Bad Behaviors). The Bonding scale assesses the level of bonding with the friend(s), the Involvement scale consists of a single item assessing whether the friend(s) try to involve the subject in risky behavior, the Good Behaviors scale assesses good behaviors on the part of the friend(s), and the Bad Behaviors scale assesses bad behaviors on the part of the friend(s). Most items are straightforward in use and interpretation. The scale can be used in two ways. The first is to use the factors identified in this report. The second is to use individual items or create other scales. Note: The data sets could only be compared for missing data information for Cohort 1 as information was not available for Cohorts 2 and 3 at the time of this report. Also, it should be noted that there are 13 items that the subject answers for each of their best friends and their peer group. In the raw data set they are designated as follows: the items for the first best friend are followed by an 'A,' the items for the second best friend are followed by a 'B,' and the items for the peer group are followed by a 'C.'

Who Completed this Measure?: select one

Cohort 1 - Administrative History

  • Year 09 | grade 8 | age 14
  • Year 10 | grade 9 | age 15
  • Year 11 | grade 10 | age 16
  • Year 12 | grade 11 | age 17
  • Year 13 | grade 12 | age 18

Cohort 2 - Administrative History

  • Year 09 | grade 8 | age 14
  • Year 10 | grade 9 | age 15
  • Year 11 | grade 10 | age 16
  • Year 12 | grade 11 | age 17
  • Year 13 | grade 12 | age 18

Cohort 3 - Administrative History

  • Year 09 | grade 8 | age 14
  • Year 10 | grade 9 | age 15
  • Year 11 | grade 10 | age 16
  • Year 12 | grade 11 | age 17
  • Year 13 | grade 12 | age 18

Technical Reports:

Raw Dataset Name: CxAC

Scored Dataset Name: CCFy

Keywords:
Alcohol Use, Drugs, Friendship, Illegal Behaviors, Peer Relationship, Smoking

Is this Measure Available for Public Use?: No

Obtain Measure:

Social Development Research Group
9725 3rd Ave., NE
Suite 401
Seattle, WA 98115
Phone: (206) 685-1997
Fax: (206) 543-4507
Email: sdrg@u.washington.edu