Appendix A: HOME-SF Scales (NLSY79 Child)

Appendix A: HOME-SF Scales (NLSY79 Child)

The HOME-SF is divided into four parts: one for children under age three; a second for children between the ages of three and five; a third for children ages six through nine; and starting with the 1988 survey round, a fourth version for children ten and over.  The number of individual items varies according to the age of the child. Prior to constructing an overall score and the two subscores for the HOME-SF, all of the individual items are translated into dichotomous zero-one variables and then appropriately summed. More information about the HOME-SF assessment can be found in the Topical Guide.

A complete listing of the HOME-SF items by age and type of report is found below in Appendix A-1. For each age group, the (questionnaire item) components of the total scale and cognitive stimulation and emotional support subscales, and the procedure used to recode non-dichotomous responses into dichotomous responses are documented in Appendices A-2a to A-2d.

Question names for HOME-SF items are provided for the 2002 survey round to the present round. HOME-SF items for prior rounds can be located by searching for Word in Title (enter search term) contains HOME PART in NLS Investigator.

 

Appendix A-1. NLSY79 Child HOME-SF (Short Form): Scale items by age and type of report

 

S = Mother Self-Report; O = Interviewer Observation

HOME-SF Item Description Age Assessed
0-2 yrs 3-5 yrs 6-9 yrs 10-14 yrs
1. Child gets out of house 4 times a week or more S - - -
2. Child has 3 children's books (10 for ages 3-9 yrs; 20 for ages 10-14 yrs)** S S S S
3. Mother reads to child 3 times a week or more*** S S S -
4. Child taken to grocery store (once/week or 2-3 times a month) S S - -
5. Child has one or more cuddly, soft or role-playing toys S - - -
6. Child has one or more push or pull toys S - - -
7. Mother believes parents should usually or always spend time teaching kids S - - -
8. Child eats meal with both mother and father(-figure) once a day or more S S S S
9. Mom often talks with child while working S - - -
10. Mom reports no more than 1 spank during past week S S S -
11. Mom spontaneously vocalize to/conversed with child at least twice O O O O
12. Mom responded verbally to child O - - -
13. Mom showed physical affection to child O O O*** O***
14. Mom did not spank child O O - -
15. Mom did not interfere/restrict child more than 3 times O - - -
16. Mom provided appropriate toys/activities to child O - - -
17. Mom kept child in view O - - -
18. Play environment is safe (home or building for ages 36 mos +) O O O O
19. Family subscribes to at least one magazine - S - -
20. Child has use of record/CD player and at least 5 records/CDs/tapes - S - -
21. Child helped to learn numbers at home - S - -
22. Child helped to learn alphabet at home - S - -
23. Child helped to learn colors at home - S - -
24. Child helped to learn shapes and sizes at home - S - -
25. Child has some choice in foods for breakfast and lunch - S - -
26. TV is on in home less than 5 hours per day - S - -
27. Non-harsh discipline if child hits (or swears/speaks in anger ages 72mos+) - S S S
28. Child taken to museum in past year - S S S
29. Child expected to make his/her bed - - S S
30. Child expected to clean his/her room - - S S
31. Child expected to clean up after spills - - S -
32. Child expected to bathe him/herself - - S -
33. Child expected to pick up after himself/herself - - S S
34. Child expected to keep shared living areas clean and straight - - - S
35. Child expected to do routine chores such as lawn, help w/ dinner, dishes - - - S
36. Child expected to help manage his/her own time - - - S
37. Musical instrument in home child can use (see #20) - - S S
38. Family gets a daily newspaper - - S S
39. Child reads several times a week for enjoyment - - S S
40. Family encourages child to start and do hobbies - - S S
41. Child receives lessons or belongs to sports/music/art/dance/drama org - - S S
42. Child taken to musical or drama performance in past year - - S S
43. Family visits with family or friends 2-3 times a month - - S S
44. Child spends time with father(-figure) 4 times a week - - S S
45. Child spends time with father(-figure) in outdoor activities once a week - - S S
46. When watching TV, parent discusses program with child - - S S
47. Mom encouraged child to contribute to conversation - - O O
48. Mom answered child's questions or requests verbally - O O O
49. Mom introduced interviewer to child by name - O O O
50. Mom's voice conveyed positive feeling about child  - O O O
51. Home is not dark - O O O
52. Home is reasonably clean - O O O
53. Home is minimally cluttered - O O O
 
* One combined version of Interviewer Observations used for ages 6-14 years.
** Data available so that item can be scored based on 10+ books for all ages.
*** Physical affection items reported by mothers for these age groups but not included in score.

 

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