Vineland Social Maturity Scale

Introduction

History of Vineland Social Maturity Scale

The Vineland Social Maturity Scale (VSMS) was developed by Edgar Arnold Doll in

1935. The scale is used throughout the world to measure various aspects like social skills,

adaptation skills traits, habits, intelligence, competency and the interpersonal reactions. The

scale is used for measuring social maturity especially in children and young adults. The

results of the scale are used to determine the social age and the social quotient of the

individual. However, the scale specifically focuses on the personal-social maturation of

children which is an important aspect to be considered.

The Vineland Social Maturity Scale is reliable to understand the adaptive behaviour in

pre-school children. The scale also measures if there is any deficiency in terms of the social

maturation. The scale has been classified into 8 different categories measuring different

aspects of the social maturation of the individual. The eight categories are, Self-help general,

Self-help dressing, Self-help eating, Communication, Self-direction, Socialisation, Locomotion and

Occupation. This classification also shows that adaptive behaviour is a multi-dimensional aspect. The

Vineland Social Maturity Scale is widely used throughout the world and is important in the fields of

developmental, remedial, educational and training. The scale has a dual characteristic of being a

questionnaire as well as a rating scale.

The scale is also used in the Indian context. The scale has been adapted to the Indian

population by Rev. Fr. Dr. A.J. Malin. He developed the adaption while working at the Nagpur Child

Guidance Centre. The adaption is widely used in India especially for children with intellectual

deficits. The scale provides a measure for the social age and social quotient. Along with this, the scale

also highlights the social deficits and social assets of a developing child. This version of the scale
stops at the age of 15 years. Therefore, the major objective of the scale is to understand the type of

deficits that the client is facing with. This will further help the therapist to design a programme to help

the child overcome the deficit.

The scoring of the scale is based on the ‘Yes’ responses that are given by the client or the

mother of the client. These scores are calculated and are used to find the social age (SA) of the client.

After obtaining the social age, a formula is employed to find the social quotient (SQ) which is

determined by dividing the social age by the chronological age of the child and multiplying that figure

by 100. There is a second level of scoring which involves comparing the social age of the client with

the 8 domains providing a detailed account on the different domains of social maturity. Through the

second level scores, various deficits can be found and are targeted specially.

Profile of the Client

Name: A.V

Age: 4 years

Gender: Female

Education: Junior Kindergarten

Occupation: Student

Marital status: Single

Languages known: Kannada, English

Where from: Bengaluru

Referred by: N.A

Referred for: N.A

Informants: Mother

Reliability of the informants: N.A

Presenting complaints: N.A

 Observation

The entire process of assessment of the scale took about 15-20 minutes in total. Most of the

questions were answered by the informant (mother) of the client. Throughout the process, the

informant and the client were comfortable to answer. The informant was able to answer most of the

questions accurately belonging to the specific period. However, the informant was slightly confused

about certain questions and asked for examples to be elaborated with to get a clear understanding.

There were some questions which were directly answered by the client when it came to the present

age.

Results

Table No. 1

Client’s individual scores on the Vineland Social Maturity Scale (VSMS)

Domains SHG SHE SHD SD OCC COM LOC SOC

Item number 66 67 52 60 55 63 53 69

Maturity level 8 8 5 6 7 5 5 8

Chronologicalage 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Interpretation O O O O O O O O

Key

O – Optimum level of maturity

Interpretation

The Vineland Social Maturity Scale is a measure that is devised to understand the

social maturity present among children and young adults. The scale consists of a total number

of 117 items to give a clear understanding on the social maturity and social competence of an
individual. In the present administration, the Indian adaptation of VSMS has been employed

and is specifically devised for the Indian population. This assessment therefore provides non-

culturally biased results.

The Indian Adaptation of Vineland Social Maturity Scale (VSMS) was administered

on a female client with the initials AV with the chronological age of 4 years and her mother

RV of 32 years. The client was referred by Delhi Public School for the assessment of social

maturity. During the process of assessment, both the client and the mother were comfortable.

Most of the responses were obtained from the mother and the simple items were directly

presented to the client.

In the VSMS, the client obtained a total score of 53 which corresponds to the social

age of 4 years and 6 months. The social age of the client is higher than the chronological age.

Through this, the social quotient, which is the index of the social maturity of the client, was

found to be 112.5.

In the domain of Self-Help general category, the client achieved the 66th item which

corresponds with the maturity levels of an 8 year old. The social maturity of the client in the

SHG category is at an optimum level.

In the domain of Self-Help eating, the client achieved the 67th item which corresponds

with the maturity levels of an 8 year old. The social maturity of the client in the SHE

category is at an optimum level and is above the chronological age.

In the domain of Self-Help dressing, the client achieved the 52th item which

corresponds with the maturity levels of a 5 year old. The social maturity of the client in the

SHD category is at an optimum level.

 In the domain of Self-Direction, the client achieved the 60th item which corresponds

with the maturity levels of a 6 year old. The social maturity of the client in the SD category is

at an optimum level.

In the domain of Occupation category, the client achieved the 55th item which

corresponds with the maturity levels of a 5 year old. The social maturity of the client in the

OCC category is at an optimum level.

In the domain of Communication category, the client achieved the 63rd item which

corresponds with the maturity levels of a 7 year old. The social maturity of the client in the

COM category is at an optimum level.

In the domain of Locomotion, the client achieved the 53rd item which corresponds

with the maturity levels of a 5 year old. The social maturity of the client in the LOC category

is at an optimum level.

In the domain of Socialisation, the client achieved the 69th item which corresponds

with the maturity levels of an 8 year old. The social maturity of the client in the SOC

category is at an optimum level.

The scores of the client AV at all the domains were higher than the chronological age

of the client and are at an optimum level. Therefore, in order to maintain the status quo,

maintain the same routine.

Recommendations

The client AV scored at an optimum level at every dimension of social maturity. The

results show that the client is not at a deficit at any domain when compared to the

chronological age. However, the child is beyond the chronological age which rules out the

requirement for any training for any improvement. The client in every domain is at an
optimum level or beyond the chronological age. Therefore, in order to maintain the status quo

the same routine should be continued.

Summary

The client AV is a 4 year old female student currently studying Junior Kindergarten at

Delhi Public School. As per the requirement of the school, Vineland Social Maturity Scale

was assessed on the client to understand the level of social maturity of the client. The process

of assessment was smooth and quick as the child and informant were co-operative and

comfortable. The results of the assessment showed that the client has no deficits in the social

age and is beyond her chronological age in all the domains of social maturity. The client does

not have any deficits in social maturity and is at an optimum level at all domains.
 References

Krugman, Morris (1956). "Vineland Social Maturity Scale". Journal of Consulting

Psychology. 20 (5): 408–409. doi:10.1037/h0038827.

Sparrow, S, S., (2011). Vineland Social Maturity Scale. Encyclopaedia of Clinical

Neuropsychology. Retrieved from

https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-0-387-79948-

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