Construction and Validation of the Gender Apperception Test-GAT for Children

Abstract

Objective: This study had objectives as the construction and validation of an instrument to assess the factors associated to the formation of gender identity considering the role of toys and childish games, easily applicable and possible to be used in a wide range of contexts with children aged from 4 to 6 years old. Method: The Gender Apperception Test (GAT-originally TAG in BR-Portuguese), formed by 51 items, was applied in 303 children (171 boys and 132 girls) from public and private schools. Results: The internal consistency of the items was very satisfactory presented in Cronbach's Alphas of 0.92. Conclusions: GAT's psychometric parameters were satisfactory, indicating that this is an alternative way for empirical investigations and applied works in different institutions, capable of guiding measures intended to assess and keep up with the development of children's gender identity concept.

The Development of Gender Identity in Boys with Autistic Spectrum Disorders and in Boys with Mental Retardation

“…For the present investigation, those aspects would be variables that would make it impossible know if they chose of the toys/ games related to the male and female genders, or even those considered unisex. For this reason, the Gender Apperception Test (GAT) [31], which is easy to apply and can be used in several contexts, has been used.…”

“…The instrument was called the Gender Apperception Test-GAT [31]. The term Gender Apperception was chosen because the Apperception is a process that organizes the mental elements and is directly related to the capacity of interpretation of the sensorial stimuli attributing them meaning based on the personal experiences, the emotions and the knowledge of the world.…”

“…To make up this group, the boy could not present morbid psychiatric conditions or any other nature. The boys in this group were randomly selected from a database constructed during the Gender Apperception Test -GAT validation process [31], matching these participants to the others who formed the other groups in this research. Parents and/or guardians signed the Free and Informed Consent Form.…”

Identidade de gênero em crianças com Transtorno do espectro autista (TEA)

“…Em cinco casos, a coleta ocorreu nos domicílios das crianças em função do período de férias escolares e/ou a pedido dos pais. Em todos os contextos, a aplicação do TAG (Gaino, et al, 2013) ocorreu em uma sala contendo uma mesa e duas cadeiras, com o examinador de frente para a criança, sem a interferência dos pais/cuidadores. Antes do início da pesquisa e da aplicação dos instrumentos a ela relacionados, foram realizadas várias reuniões com os pais ou responsáveis, bem como com os profissionais das instituições parceiras, para a explicação dos objetivos, procedimentos, e do direito de pedirem esclarecimentos ou optarem por desistir de participar da mesma.…”