Contemporary Instruments for Assessing Early Temperament by Questionnaire and in the Laboratory

Abstract

Research in behavioral science often succeeds or fails depending on the quality of its assessment instruments. Recognizing this, many temperament researchers have proposed questionnaires, interview schedules, home observation coding systems, and laboratory methods for assessing early temperament. These assessment instruments have been reviewed and evaluated from several perspectives (e. g., Bornstein, Gaughran, & Homel, 1986; Crockenberg & Acredolo, 1983; Goldsmith & Rieser-Danner, 1990; Hubert, Wachs, Peters-Martin, & Gandour, 1982; Neale & Stevenson, 1989; Rothbart & Goldsmith, 1985; Seifer & Sameroff, 1986; Slabach, Morrow, & Wachs, this volume). In this chapter, we preview some new instruments and review recent data on an established questionnaire, all developed in our laboratories. These instruments include the Infant Behavior Questionnaire, the Toddler Behavior Assessment Questionnaire, and the Children's Behavior Questionnaire, as well as a battery of laboratory temperament assessment techniques.