The ‘About Me’ is a self-report questionnaire for school children used to measure aspects of social identity, academic self-concept and general self-worth. It is based on research by Pam Maras (see below for examples). The seven-factor structure of the secondary school age-version of the About Me Questionnaire has been validated (Maras, Thompson, Moon & Gridley, 2016). The ‘About Me’ contains 31 items and is designed to measure 3 broad psychological constructs, 2 of which are comprised of smaller items (subtypes), as follows:
1. Social Identity
- Identification with Peers (4 items)
- Identification with Family (4 items)
- Identification with School (6 items)
2. Academic Self-Concept
- Academic Effort (4 items)
- Academic Competence (4 items)
- Academic Importance (4 items)
3. General Self-Worth (5 items)
There is a primary school version of the ‘About Me’ (for use with primary school children aged 7-11 years old) and a secondary school version (for use with secondary school children aged 11-16 years old). Both versions measure the same things but use slightly modified wording. Copies of the paper versions of the questionnaires and the coding frames can be downloaded here.
The ‘About Me’ has been translated into several languages, including French, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and Chinese (Mandarin). A Higher Education version is also in development. If you would like a copy of these versions please contact p.f.maras@gre.ac.uk or a.moon@gre.ac.uk directly.
List of publications including the ‘About Me' questionnaire:
Maras, P., Thompson, T., Gridley, N., & Moon, A. (2016). The “About Me” Questionnaire: Factorial Structure and Measurement Invariance. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment. 36(4), 379–391.
Maras, P., Moon, A., Gupta, T. & Gridley. N. (2015). The role of materialism on social, emotional and behavioural difficulties for British adolescents. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 20(4), 362-380.
Maras, P., Moon, A., & Gridley, N. (2014). Attribution style of adolescents with school-reported social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. Emotional & Behavioural Difficulties. 19(4), 426-439. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13632752.2014.913760
Maras, P., Moon, A., & Zhu, L. (2012). Chinese and British adolescents’ academic self-concept, social identity and behaviour in schools. BJEP Monograph Series II: Psychology and Antisocial Behaviour in Schools, 9, 93-122.
Bornholt, Laurel J., Maras, Pamela F. and Robinson, R.A. (2009). 'I am - we are': personal and social pathways to further study, work and family life. Social Psychology of Education, 12 (3). pp. 345-359. ISSN 1381-2890 (Print) 1573-1928 (Online) Maras, P. F. (2007). ‘But no one in my family has been to University’ Aiming Higher: School Students’ Attitudes to Higher Education. The Australian Educational Researcher, 34(3), 69-90.
Maras, P., Carmichael, K., Patel, S. and Wills, J. (2007). ‘The trouble with Year 10’: 13-16 year old school students’ attitudes to higher education. Social Psychology of Education, 10(3), 375-397.
Maras, P., Brosnan, M., Faulkner, N., Montgomery, T., & Vital, P. (2006). 'They are out of control': self-perceptions, risk-taking and attributional style of adolescents with SEBDs. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 11(4), 281–298.
If you have any questions or want any further advice regarding the ‘About Me Questionnaire’, please contact p.f.maras@gre.ac.uk or a.moon@gre.ac.uk.