User:Elysen

Prosocial Tendencies Measure (PTM)
The Prosocial Tendencies Measure (PTM), developed by Carlo and Randall, is a multi-dimensional measure of prosocial behaviour for use with late adolescents (Carlo & Randall, 2002). Carlo and Randall (2002) designed the PTM to specifically measure distinct types of prosocial behaviours, as they felt that the majority of research done regarding helping used more general definitions of prosocial behaviour, as well as not being directly geared towards use with adolescents. The six specific types of helping behaviours Carlo and Randall (2002) differentiated between, and comprised the PTM of, are altruistic, compliant, emotional, dire, public and anonymous. The PTM encompasses 23 items, with subscales of each of the six behaviours, and uses a 5-point scale (1- does not describe me at all to 5- describes me greatly) for assessment (Carlo & Randall, 2002).

Application of the PTM
Carlo and Randall (2002) used the PTM in their study with late adolescents (i.e. university undergrads), and the results allowed the researchers to provide support for distinct types of prosocial behavior and for the PTM as a reliable and valid multi-dimensional measure of prosocial beahviour. Carlo, Hausmann, Christiansen, and Randall (2003) developed and used a revised version of the PTM, the PTM-R, in their study to see if the six different types of prosocial behaviours of the PTM could be found in younger participants (early and middle adolescents; i.e. junior high and high school students), which they were.

Very few studies are able to be found that specifically use the PTM. It is unclear at the time what this is a reflection of (e.g. unawareness of the measure, problems using the measure). Hopefully, there will be increased use of the PTM to add to the reliability of the measure and to aid in a better understanding of prosocial behaviours, not just in adolescents but perhaps in other age groups as well. Also, increased use of the PTM in research might help to uncover any problems that may be inherent in the measure, but have yet to be uncovered (e.g. cross-cultural transferability).