Sample A: Cover Page of Thesis, Project, or Dissertation Proposal

Table 7
Minnesota Preschool Affect Checklist (MPAC) Items Composing Categories Included in
Denham and Burton’s (1996) Principal Components Analysis
MPAC category items Category item definitions
Positive affect
Item 1 The child displays positive affect in any manner (i.e., facial, vocal, or
bodily affect). The child‘s behaviors must match the context of a given
situation.
Item 2 The child uses positive affect to initiate contact or to engage another. The
child must begin or restart interaction after a substantial break.
Item 3 The child directs positive affect specifically at a particular person when
already in contact with them. Affect is directed at a specific person. This
behavior does not have to be in response to someone, but someone must
be the target of the child‘s positive affect.
Item 4 The child displays positive affect when in a social situation but does not
direct it to anyone in particular.
Item 5 The child shows very positive affect (i.e., The child shows exuberance, or
―lights up‖).
Item 6 The child shows ongoing high enjoyment or ―has a lot of fun‖ (i.e.,
sustained continuance for 30 seconds or more).
Item 7 The child uses his/her face very expressively to show positive affect in
communicating directly with another. The child displays moderate
intensity (i.e., not same level of intensity as in item #5) in communicating
with another.
Item 8 The child shows pride in accomplishment (usually through a verbal
statement).
Negative affect
Item 1 The child displays negative affect in any manner (i.e., facial, vocal, or
bodily affect). The child‘s behaviors must match the context of a given
situation.
Item 2 The child uses negative affect to initiate contact or to engage another. The
child must begin or restart interaction after a substantial break.
Item 3 The child directs negative affect specifically at a particular person when
already in contact with them. Affect is directed at a specific person. This
behavior does not have to be in response to someone, but someone must
be the target of the child‘s negative affect.
Item 4 The child uses his/her face very expressively to show negative affect in
communicating directly with another.
Item 5 The child uses his/her voice very expressively to show negative affect in
communicating directly with another.
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