Abstract
The Intimate Friendship Scale is reviewed based on 16 studies relevant to children and preadolescents. The conceptual background is presented. Intimate friendship is considered a configuration of diverse but coherently related quantitatively commensurate elements, specified here. The structure of the original scale is described, as well as its eight dimensions of content. Data on the scale's reliability, content validity (through the use of judges), criterion validity (using reciprocity of choice), predictive validity (through follow-up comparisons after 7 years), construct validity (through comparisons involving kibbutz and city, social class, divorce, twins, defense mechanisms and group interventions) and discriminant validity (through comparisons with comradeship, popularity, role-taking, IQ and social desirability) are presented. The discussion addresses questions regarding the scale, and suggests directions for future research.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 449-469 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Journal | Journal of Social and Personal Relationships |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 1994 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
- Communication
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Sociology and Political Science