Re: screening questions for abuse vs. harsh discipline

[Carol Ann Plummer <plummerc@xxxxxxxxx>]

Perhaps the biggest difficulty with this is even having any clarity about
what constitutes "spanking".  I would suggest you start with pulling that
apart with a clearer definition---slap on the hand to keep from a hot
stove, hit with a belt, one swat on the behind, etc.  Age, intent, force,
and more is important to know what you are learning.  
"Feeling" you have lost control also has an imprecision that may not tell
you much.  Perhaps capturing corporal punishment, discipline, abuse, etc.
will take a few more items.  Good luck!
On Tue, 20 Apr 1999, Sandra Bishop wrote:

> Hello,
> 
> A colleague is starting to analyze data from a screening questionnaire
> and asked me to post this query.  
> 
> The questionnaire contains 3 items regarding parental discipline:
> 
> 1) Have you spanked your child more than once in the previous month?
> 2) Have you ever felt like you have lost control while spanking your
> child?
> 3) Have you ever left a mark from spanking your child?
> 
> If a parent endorses any 2 of these 3 items, she is trying to use this as
> an indication of either: "corporal punishment"; or "harsh discipline"; or 
> "potential abuse".  
> 
> What do you think of this?  Would endorsing 2 of the 3 items qualify as
> punishment or harsh discipline or potential abuse?    
> 
> 
> Thank you.
> 
> Sandra Bishop
> Yale Child Study Center
>