Assessing School Victimization in the United States, Guatemala, and Israel: Cross-Cultural Psychometric Analysis of the School Victimization Scale

• NCJ Number: 236395
• Journal: Victims & Offenders Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: July-September 2011 Pages: 290-305
• Author(s): Jennifer Greif Green; Michael J. Furlong; Ron A. Astor; Rami Benbenishty; Evelyn Espinoza
• Date Published: July 2011
• Length: 16 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examines cross-national measurement on school victimization.

Abstract

There is a need for cross-national estimates of school victimization prevalence, yet limited methodological research in this area. The current study evaluates the School Victimization Scale (SVS), administered in the U.S., Guatemala, and Israel (total N=9,722). SVS measurement equivalence was tested to compare subgroups within each country. Two SVS factors emerged in all countries reflecting higher-severity (weapon-related) and lower-severity (physical/verbal) victimization. Israeli data had poor scalar equivalence; Jewish and Arab students with the same SVS score endorsed different items. Findings illustrate the complexity of cross-national measurement of school victimization and the potential for misleading results when psychometric equivalence is ignored. (Published Abstract)