Social Adjustment Scale

Abstract

The Social Adjustment Scale (SAS), developed by Stanley P. Zarlock in 1961, is an assessment tool designed to measure the social adaptability and adjustment of adults experiencing blindness. Originating from research aimed at exploring magical beliefs and associated psychological traits related to vision loss, the scale focuses specifically on observable social behavior, social maturity, and practical problem-solving skills, deliberately excluding deep psychological functioning. Participants are evaluated using a five-point rating scale, yielding total scores ranging from 0 to 30. Higher scores on the SAS indicate superior adjustment. The instrument is notable for incorporating subjective ratings from both trained investigators and social workers, a methodology that contributed to its high reported reliability.

Keywords

Social Adjustment Scale, Test Development, Reliability, Rating Scales, Social Adjustment, Test Construction, Adaptive Behavior, Blind Adults, Functional Status

Authors

Stanley P. Zarlock

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Social Adjustment Scale is to quantitatively measure the degree of successful social adaptability achieved by adults who are blind. It was intended to move beyond purely psychological or emotional assessments to focus on observable, functional behaviors that signify successful integration into the community.

Specifically, the scale serves as a metric for assessing social maturity and the practical application of problem-solving skills within various domains of daily life, such as employment, mobility, and social participation. This focus allowed Zarlock (1961) to investigate the interplay between psychological reactions to blindness and demonstrable social competence.

Construct

The core construct measured by the Social Adjustment Scale is Social Adjustment to Blindness. This construct is operationalized through observable behaviors and functional status indicators rather than internal psychological states.

Social Adjustment, in this context, refers to the individual’s ability to manage practical tasks, engage in community life, and maintain independence despite vision impairment. The scale emphasizes external evidence of adaptation, such as vocational success, independent travel, and engagement in social organizations, providing a snapshot of adaptive behavior in the face of blindness.

Validity

The original research by Zarlock (1961) did not explicitly indicate specific measures of validity for the Social Adjustment Scale, such as criterion or construct validity. While the test methodology relied on established checklists and prior research to ensure the relevance and clarity of measured problem areas (suggesting initial content validity), formal validation studies were not reported in the foundational article.

Reliability

The Social Adjustment Scale demonstrated strong inter-rater reliability, which was a critical component of its design given the reliance on ratings from external observers. The initial reliability coefficient calculated between the scores provided by the professional social workers and the primary investigators was 0.92.

Furthermore, applying the Spearman-Brown Prophecy Formula—a standard procedure used to estimate the reliability of a test if its length were changed—increased the calculated coefficient to an exceptional 0.95, confirming the high internal consistency and stability of the ratings across independent observers.

Factor Analysis

No formal factor analysis was indicated or reported in the foundational documentation for the Social Adjustment Scale. The scale appears to function as a unified, single-factor measure of overall social adjustment to blindness, based on the accumulation of scores across six specific behavioral items.

Instrument

Test Type: Rating Scale

Format: Five-point rating scale (Total score range: 0–30)

Language Available: English (Original study language)

Population Group: Human

Age Group: Adult

Population Details: Blind Adults

Test Methodology: The scale development utilized checklists and was informed by prior research to establish clear and relevant problem areas related to social behavior. The assessment involves input from both trained investigators and social workers who rate the participant’s functional status.

Keywords

Rating Scales, Social Adjustment, Test Construction, Test Reliability, Functional Status, Adaptive Behavior, Blindness, Stanley P. Zarlock

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source material. Affiliation: University of Buffalo

Correspondence Address: Not provided in source material.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Permissions: The instrument may be used for Research/Teaching purposes, according to the source documentation.

Fee: Fee information is not specified in the source material.

Test Year: 1961

Reference’s

Zarlock, S. P. (1961). Magical thinking and associated psychological reactions to blindness. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 25(2), 155–159. The digital object identifier (DOI) for this reference is https://doi.org/10.1037/h0040243.

Items of the Social Adjustment Scale

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

• Gainfully employed for one year
• Uses cane or dog guide to travel about the community
• Reads and writes braille
• Holds membership in a civic organization
• Maintains proper etiquette during meals
• Buys his own clothes