Setting the Record Straight (STRS-30)

Description

The Setting the Record Straight (STRS-30) is a 30-item questionnaire developed to assess experiences of bullying and victimization among school-age children. It examines both children’s direct self-reports and their perceptions of how peers view them in relation to bullying and victimization.

Objective

The main objective of the STRS-30 is to identify patterns of bullying behavior and victimization, as well as potential discrepancies between children’s own perceptions and how they believe their peers perceive them.

The instrument can be used in developmental and educational psychology research and in studies evaluating school-based bullying prevention and intervention programs.

Structure and Scoring

The STRS-30 includes four subscales:

Self-Reported Victimization: 10 items
Self-Reported Bullying: 5 items
Peer-Perceived Victimization: 10 items
Peer-Perceived Bullying: 5 items

Responses are scored using a True/False format, typically coded as 1 = True and 0 = False. Subscale scores can be calculated by summing the relevant responses, dividing by the number of items in the subscale, and multiplying by 100.

Higher scores indicate greater levels of reported or perceived bullying and/or victimization.

Data Analysis

Statistical analysis may include descriptive statistics, internal consistency analysis, correlations among the four subscales, and comparisons across demographic or school-related groups.

The STRS-30 can also be examined in relation to variables such as social adjustment, psychological well-being, self-esteem, peer relationships, and other indicators of school functioning.

References

Gottheil, N. F., & Dubow, E. F. (2001a). The interrelationships of behavioral indices of bully and victim behavior. Journal of Emotional Abuse, 2, 75–93.

Gottheil, N. F., & Dubow, E. F. (2001b). Tripartite beliefs model of bully and victim behavior. Journal of Emotional Abuse, 2, 25–47.