Development and validation of the SIP-AP:
A web-based measure of social information processing patterns in elementary school-aged
boys
Kupersmidt, J. B., Stelter, R., & Dodge, K. A. (2011). Development and validation of the SIP-AP:
A web-based measure of social information processing patterns in elementary school-aged
boys. Psychological Assessment. 23(4), 834-847. PMC3715038
Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of an audio computer-
assisted self-interviewing Web-based software application called the Social Information
Processing Application (SIP-AP) that was designed to assess social information processing
skills in boys in 3rd through 5 th grades.
Method: This study included a racially and ethnically diverse sample of 244 boys ages 8 through 12
(M=9.4) from public elementary schools in 3 states. The SIP-AP includes 8 videotaped
vignettes, filmed from the first-person perspective, that depict common misunderstandings
among boys. Each vignette shows a negative outcome for the victim and ambiguous intent on
the part of the perpetrator. Boys responded to 16 Web-based questions representing the 5
social information processing mechanisms, after viewing each vignette. Parents and teachers
completed measures assessing boys’ antisocial behavior.
Results: Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that a model positing the original 5 cognitive mechanisms
fit the data well when the items representing prosocial cognitions were included on their own
factor, creating a 6th factor. The internal consistencies for each of the 16 individual cognitions
as well as for the 6 cognitive mechanism scales were excellent. Boys with elevated scores on 5
of the 6 cognitive mechanisms exhibited more antisocial behavior than boys whose scores were
not elevated.
Conclusion: These findings highlight the need for further research on the measurement of prosocial
cognitions or cognitive strengths in boys in addition to assessing cognitive deficits. Findings
suggest that the SIP-AP is a reliable and valid tool for use in future research of social
information processing skills in boys.