Screening and Assessment Tools for Child Welfare

Keys to Interactive Parenting Scale (KIPS)

Assessment Rating:
B - Reliability and/or Validity Level Above Face Validity Demonstrated

Brief Description:

Purpose: Assessment of parenting behavior for families with young children. The KIPS focuses on 12 behaviors believed to be related to effective parenting. These are:
1. Sensitivity of Responses
2. Supports Emotions
3. Physical Interaction
4. Involvement in Child's Activities
5. Open to Child's Agenda
6. Engagement in Language Experiences
7. Reasonable Expectations
8. Adapts Strategies to Child
9. Limits & Consequences
10. Supportive Directions
11. Encouragement
12. Promotes Exploration & Curiosity.

Target Population: Families with children 2 to 71 months of age.

Intended Users: Family services practitioners.

Time to Administer: 20 minutes for observation and 10 minutes for scoring.

Completed By: Family services worker.

Modalities Available: Paper and pencil.

Scoring Information: Scoring materials for the KIPS are available through the Comfort Consults website

Languages Available: English and Spanish. The rating for the measure is based solely on the English version of the measure.

Training Requirements for Intended Users: The KIPS requires online training and annual recertification. Personal training is also available.

Availability: The KIPS may be ordered through the Comfort Consults website

Summary of Relevant Psychometric Research

Keys to Interactive Parenting Scale (KIPS) has received the Assessment Rating of "B - Reliability and/or Validity Level Above Face Validity Demonstrated" based on the published, peer-reviewed research available. The assessment must have 1 published, peer-reviewed study that demonstrates that the measure is reliable and/or valid beyond the level of face validity. For more information on all of the Assessment Ratings, please click here.

Comfort, M., & Gordon, P. R. (2006). The Keys to Interactive Parenting Scale (KIPS): A practical observational assessment of parenting behavior. NHSA Dialog: A Research-to-Practice Journal for the Early Intervention Field, 9(1), 22-48.

Sample:
Participants: 101 caregiver child dyads.
Race/Ethnicity: 59% African American, 27% Caucasian, 9% Latino, 4% Asian

Summary:
The KIPS was used with a sample of caregiver child dyads, including some parents in a residential substance abuse program for mothers; fathers and stepfathers in a study of a Head Start program; and two community samples used to design trainings. Inter-rater reliability was assessed with two coders, showing high inter-rater agreement. Construct validity was measured by looking at the association of the KIPS with the Parent Child Interaction Scale (PCIS). Analysis found that the KIPS was associated with the Quality subscale of the PCIS, but not with other subscales. Researchers also assessed face validity through provide focus groups and by comparing KIPS items to lists of behaviors important to assess parenting that were generated by participants at national Child Welfare conferences. In a second study, 20 family service providers were recruited from Parents as Teachers, and Early Head Start for a field test. Results showed that the practitioners could reliably use the assessment.

Developer:

Marilee Comfort, PhD and Phil Gordon, PhD

Contact Information:

Contact: Marilee Comfort, PhD and Phil Gordon, PhD
Company: Comfort Consults LLC.
Phone: 610-455-1463
Email: info@comfortconsults.com
Website: www.ComfortConsults.com

Reviewed: June 2009