Early Literacy Research Library (ELRL) - Metric

Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME)

HOME


Access: FREE/Open Access

Download the full text(s): HOME-SF

evaluation focus

Home Environment: Cognitive Stimulation and Emotional Support

applicable ages

Infant-School Aged

available language(s)

English

availability

FREE download through the library

summary

The Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) is an instrument that can be used to measure a child’s home environment, including the quality of cognitive stimulation and emotional support provided by the child’s family. The instrument has been adapted to a short form (HOME-SF) to address time and cost constraints.

 

Areas Assessed:

    • Cognitive stimulation
    • Emotional support

HOME Scales (Bradley 1988):

    • Parental Responsivity
    • Physical Environment
    • Materials and Experiences
    • Active Stimulation
    • Encouraging Maturity
    • Emotional Climate
    • Parental Involvement
    • Family Participation

Ages Assessed:

    • children under age three
    • children ages 3-5
    • children ages 6-9
    • children ages 10 and over

Scores Available:

    • Overall HOME score
    • Cognitive stimulation subscore
    • Emotional support subscore

Administration Format: interview at home when child is present and awake, includes multi-response maternal reports and dichotomous observer ratings

 

Reliability (Bradley 1979):

    • Internal Consistency: based on the Kuder-Richardson 20 formula
      • Subscales: ranged from 0.53 – 0.83
      • Total Score: 0.93
    • Stability: ranged from 0.05 – 0.70 for 33 families with children tested at 3 and 4.5 years old

Validity (Bradley 1979):

    • Socioeconomic Measures: low to moderate correlations
    • Substantial relation to cognitive measures (Standord-Binet Intelligence Scale)
    • Substantial concurrent and predictive validity

 

Available for Purchase (HOME Inventory, full form): https://theconnectcenter.asu.edu/home-inventory

Source: https://www.nlsinfo.org/content/cohorts/nlsy79-children/topical-guide/assessments/home-home-observation-measurement


supporting literature

Sugland, B.W., et al. (1995) The Early Childhood HOME Inventory and HOME-Short Form in Differing Racial/Ethnic Groups. Journal of Family Issues, 16(5), 517-686.
PDF: HOME – 1 – Sugland 1995
Link: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/019251395016005007

Bradley, R.H., Caldwell, B.M., Rock, S.L., Hamrick, H.M., Harris, P. (1988). Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment: Development of a HOME Inventory for use with Families Having Children 6 to 10 Years Old. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 13(1), 58-71.
PDF: HOME – 2 – Bradley 1988
Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0361476X88900069

Bradley, R.H., Caldwell, B.M. (1979) Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment: A Revision of the Preschool Scale. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 84(3), 235-244.
PDF: HOME – 3 – Bradley 1979
Link: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1980-04437-001