The Reliability and Validity of the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale

Abstract

Objective: The internal consistency and construct validity of the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale (NCFAS) are reported. The NCFAS is an instrument designed for family assessment and outcome measurement in family preservation services and child welfare. Method: Internal consistency data from 288 participants cases were analyzed. Construct validity data from 126 participants were analyzed, comparing NCFAS scores with those of the Child Well-Being Scales, the Family Inventory of Resources for Management, and the Index of Family Relations. Results: For the internal consistency component, 3 of 5 original factors were supported, and a fourth factor emerged. Cronbach’s alpha ranged from .71 to .94. For the construct validation component, 5 of 6 relationships were statistically supported, with concurrent validity correlations ranging from .26 to .71. Conclusions: The internal consistency and construct validity of the NCFAS are supported by these findings.