Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Child Social Preference Scale-3 in Children With Autism.
The CSPS-3 gives BCBAs a valid, one-page snapshot of social disengagement in autistic kids.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Chetcuti et al. (2025) ran a factor analysis of the Child Social Preference Scale-3. They wanted to see if the same three subscales hold together in kids with autism. Parents filled out the 36-item form about their child’s social style.
What they found
A bifactor model fit best. One big “social disengagement” factor explains most of the score. Three smaller factors—solitary, shy, and avoidant—add extra detail. All factors link to real-life problems like peer rejection, so the tool is clinically useful.
How this fits with other research
Pandolfi et al. (2010) tried the same math on the GARS-2 and the subscales fell apart. The difference: CSPS-3 items are shorter and clearer, so parents answer more consistently. Camodeca (2025) also ran a 2025 factor analysis on the ASRSp6 short form and got weak fit; again, item wording and length matter. Lecavalier et al. (2004) showed the NCBRF holds up in autism, proving good scales do exist—CSPS-3 now joins that short list.
Why it matters
You now have a quick parent form that cleanly flags social disengagement. Use the total score first; if it is high, drill into the three sub-scales to plan social skills goals. The scale is free and takes five minutes—perfect for re-screening after intervention.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Considerable variability in social engagement among individuals with autism is well documented. Since multiple processes may contribute to this heterogeneity, validating tools to assess these differences is crucial. Originally developed in the general population, the Child Social Preference Scale (CSPS-3) aims to assess distinct forms of social disengagement arising from different combinations of approach and avoidance motivations and holds promise for delineating variability in social behaviors within autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study investigated the factor structure and psychometric properties of the CSPS-3 in a sample of 689 children diagnosed with autism (Mage = 11.23, SD = 3.56; 76% male). The results suggest that a bifactor model, consisting of a general factor and three subscales (shyness, unsociability, and social avoidance), provided the best fit to the data, with the general factor accounting for most of the variance. While the subscales demonstrated adequate internal consistency, their construct reliability and stability varied, with much of the reliable variance attributed to the general factor. The structure was consistent across age and sex subgroups, and the subscales showed distinct patterns of associations with key clinical correlates. These findings support the CSPS-3's utility in assessing diverse forms of social disengagement in the autism population, while indicating that the subscales could be refined to better capture their unique aspects.
Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 2025 · doi:10.1002/aur.70059