The Early Social Cognition Inventory (ESCI): An examination of its psychometric properties from birth to 47 months

Behav Res Methods. 2022 Jun;54(3):1200-1226. doi: 10.3758/s13428-021-01628-z. Epub 2021 Sep 10.

Abstract

Social cognition refers to a broad range of cognitive processes and skills that allow individuals to interact with and understand others, including a variety of skills from infancy through preschool and beyond, e.g., joint attention, imitation, and belief understanding. However, no measures examine socio-cognitive development from birth through preschool. Current test batteries and parent-report measures focus either on infancy, or toddlerhood through preschool (and beyond). We report six studies in which we developed and tested a new 21-item parent-report measure of social cognition targeting 0-47 months: the Early Social Cognition Inventory (ESCI). Study 1 (N = 295) revealed the ESCI has excellent internal reliability, and a two-factor structure capturing social cognition and age. Study 2 (N = 605) also showed excellent internal reliability and confirmed the two-factor structure. Study 3 (N = 84) found a medium correlation between the ESCI and a researcher-administered social cognition task battery. Study 4 (N = 46) found strong 1-month test-retest reliability. Study 5 found longitudinal stability (6 months: N = 140; 12 months: N = 39), and inter-observer reliability between parents (N = 36) was good, and children's scores increased significantly over 6 and 12 months. Study 6 showed the ESCI was internally reliable within countries (Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States, Trinidad and Tobago); parent ethnicity; parent education; and age groups from 4-39 months. ESCI scores positively correlated with household income (UK); children with siblings had higher scores; and Australian parents reported lower scores than American, British, and Canadian parents.

Keywords: Infants; Preschoolers; Social cognition; Survey development; Theory of Mind; Toddlers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cognition*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Social Cognition*
  • United States