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RE: CAP

Sally,

Yes, there is a better way to score CAP (and other data) once it's in SPSS.
In fact, I prefer this method over using official scoring software from the
start.  Simply create a syntax file and, using the SPSS COMPUTE command
(under the TRANSFORM menu), write a formula for each subscale and for the
total scale.  You'll need to pay close attention to the CAP manual for this
to be sure you're adding, reversing, and weighting items appropriately.  You
may choose to reverse-score items first, before taking this step, in order
to simplify your formula.  SPSS allows for a great range of sophisticated
functions using the COMPUTE command, so even the somewhat complex scoring of
the CAP is amenable to this method.  (You may have to dust off your high
school mathematics knowledge regarding order of operations before you
start!)

Then--and this is VERY important--there are two more steps.  First, save the
syntax file as the name of the score you've created--e.g., total risk.  You
can then run and re-run the syntax file you've written anytime you add more
cases to your data set or otherwise revise your data set.  Second, confirm
the accuracy of the program you've written by having several people hand- or
computer-score the CAP using traditional methods.  It's very easy to do it
wrong at first, but also very easy to fix if you do write a faulty program
by just opening and editing your syntax file.

Good luck!

Steve Ondersma

Steven J. Ondersma, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor--Research
Merrill-Palmer Institute
Wayne State University
71 E. Ferry Ave.
Detroit, MI  48202
Office:  (313) 872-2706
Fax:  (313) 577-0995
S.Ondersma@wayne.edu
www.mpi.wayne.edu



-----Original Message-----
From: owner-CHILD-MALTREATMENT-RESEARCH-L@cornell.edu
[mailto:owner-CHILD-MALTREATMENT-RESEARCH-L@cornell.edu]On Behalf Of
Sally Martin, Ph.D., CFLE
Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 1999 3:41 PM
To: Child Maltreatment Researchers
Subject: CAP


We are seeking advise on scoring the Child Abuse Potential from other
researchers who might have used the full scale.   CAP data have been entered
into an SPSS file along with other data being collected for a program
evaluation.   Although the program did not have the funds to purchase the
CAP scoring software initially, we (the evaluators) do have the funds to
purchase the software at this point.  Has anyone else dealt with this
situation?  Do we need to purchase the software and reenter the data?  Or,
is there an efficient way to calculate scores using the data as already
input?  Any suggestions will be appreciated.
                                                        Sally Martin