Development of a “Pictorial Values Scale for Children”: A Validity and Reliability Study

The aim of this study is to develop a valid and reliable measurement tool—the Pictorial Values Scale for Children (PVSC)—to assess the level of awareness of values among preschool and primary school-aged children. Conducted using a descriptive survey design, the research process included the stages of content validity assessment, pilot testing, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). To establish content validity, expert opinions were obtained from ten specialists in the fields of values education, child development, and educational measurement and evaluation. A pilot study was then conducted with 250 primary school students, followed by EFA performed on data collected from a sample of 517 students. Results from the EFA revealed a two-factor structure comprising Social and Societal Values (SSV) and Personal, Moral, and Emotional Values (PMEV). This structure was further validated through CFA conducted with an independent sample of 500 students. The scale includes a total of 15 values: friendship, love, respect, patriotism, responsibility, justice, helpfulness, self-control, patience, honesty, compassion, diligence, empathy, family, and kindness. For each value, the scale includes five items—three correct and two distractors—evaluated using a symbol-based pictorial Likert-type format appropriate for children. In the net scoring system, points obtained from distractor items are subtracted from the total score to determine the student’s ability to correctly recognize and differentiate the value. The findings indicate that the PVSC demonstrates acceptable levels of content validity, construct validity, and internal consistency. The CFA fit indices (CFI = .98, RMSEA = .060, SRMR = .039) confirm the robustness of the two-factor model. In conclusion, the Pictorial Values Scale for Children is presented as a valid, reliable, and original instrument for measuring children's awareness of values.