Description:
The CAP Inventory is a 160-item questionnaire
designed to assist in screening male and female parents or
primary caregivers who are suspected of physical child abuse.
The Inventory (Form VI) contains a total of 10 scales. The
primary clinical scale is the 77-item physical child abuse
scale. This abuse scale can be divided into six factor scales:
distress, rigidity, unhappiness, problems with child and self,
problems with family, and problems from others. In addition,
the CAP Inventory contains three validity scales: the lie
scale, the random response scale, and the inconsistency scale.
The validity scales are used in various combinations to produce
three response distortion indexes: the faking-good index,
faking-bad index, and random response index. This instrument
should always be used in conjunction with evaluation data
from other sources, including interviews and other test data.
Uses of Information: The CAP Inventory is intended to assist
in the screening of suspected physical child abuse cases in
social services agencies and similar settings. It can also
be used as a screening tool for the selection of individuals
who are at increased risk for physical child abuse, to assess
clients prior to treatment, or for treatment or program evaluation
purposes.
Reliability: (1) Split-half reliability: Split-half reliabilities
ranging from .93 to .98 and Kuder Richardson-20 coefficients
ranging from .85 to .96 have been reported for different gender,
age, educational level, and ethnic groups.
Validity: (1) Construct validity:
The CAP abuse score is positively correlated (.48) with the
amount of physical abuse in childhood. (2) Predictive validity:
a significant correlation of .34 was found between abuse scores
and subsequent confirmed reports of abuse and neglect.
Method of Scoring: Each item is answered in a forced-choice,
agree-disagree format. Scoring can be done by hand or by computer
using a computer-scoring program (CAPSCORE). The hand scoring
approach uses a series of transparent scoring templates to
generate the scale scores. The name of each CAP Inventory
scale and the associated items to be scored are indicated
on each template. For the Abuse Scale and six factor scales,
weighted scores are then summed and scale scores are produced.
For the Validity Scales, a nonweighted scoring procedure is
used.
The Response Distortion Index Scores are determined using
the raw score totals of different pairs of the individual
validity scales. A non-weighted scoring procedure is used
for Special Scale Scores. To avoid errors, it is recommended
that the CAPSCORE program be purchased and used to score the
Inventory. It computes all of the above scores automatically.
Interpretability: Interpretation rules for the validity scales,
the response distortion indexes, the CAP abuse scale, and
the six abuse factor scales are outlined in the Technical
and the Interpretive Manuals. Cut-off scores are listed in
the manual. The author recommends using a cut-off score of
116, or 215 out of the possible 0 to 400 points, depending
on the sensitivity and specificity required. The manual specifies
that the 77-item abuse scale score, not individual factor
scores, should be employed for the screening of physical child
abusers.
Training Support: None described.
Adaptations/Special Instructions for Individuals with Disabilities:
None described.
Report Preparation Support: None described. References:
Milner, Joel S. The Child Abuse Potential Inventory: Manual
(Second Edition). DeKalb, IL: Psytec, 1986.
Milner, Joel S. An Interpretive Manual for The Child Abuse
Potential Inventory. Webster, NC: Psytec, 1990.
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