**Background about the Shirtcliff Script** The Pubertal development Scale (PDS) was developed in 1988 as a self report measure of pubertal status that was used twice annually over a period of 3 years in a longitudinal sample of 335 young adolescents in grades 6-8. It is suggested that the measure can be used in school-based studies when more direct measures of puberty may not be possible. The scale shows good reliability and validity. The instrument produces a continuous score of puberty, scores each item (except menarche) on a 1-4 metric from “has not started” to “seems complete” and can appear like staging given inclusion of 5-items. However, this original classification is based on 5 items of the PDS and do not reflect Tanner Staging criteria in terms of timing or sequencing of adolescent development. In addition, the PDS captures many late-maturing events that Tanner Staging does not such as beard growth for boys. Thus Tanner staging and PDS scores are complementary and studies are recommended to measure both when possible. [Petersen, A. C., Crockett, L., Richards, M., & Boxer, A. (1988). A self-report measure of pubertal status: Reliability, validity, and initial norms. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 17(2), 117-133.][1] The Scoring criteria for the PDS was not published with the scale. A version from Lisa Crockett was created in which 3 of the five items contributed to the score. Shirtcliff, Quevedo and Dahl set out to score the PDS in a manner that converted the items – as best as possible – onto the Tanner Staging according to timing and sequencing of maturation and links with hormone measures and tanner staging by Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. This was published with instructions to contact the authors for access to the script. The script is appended in spss syntax form (.sps) with notes about how to establish variables from the outset so the script can run unassisted. Please contact birdie@uoregon.edu for questions. If the script is used, please cite: [Shirtcliff, E. A., Dahl, R. E., & Pollak, S. D. (2009). Pubertal development: correspondence between hormonal and physical development. Child development, 80(2), 327-337.][2] For ease of use, we have also created a calculator that allows the PDS questionnaire to be completed and scores returned. Pubertal Development Scoring Calculator: [Access Here][3] PDSS score or “PDS-Shirtcliff” is a composite of the 5 items. The PDSS is recommended when puberty is not a key measure of interest and there are no hypotheses that adrenal vs gonadal hormonal events will be important for research questions of interest. PDS-Adrenal takes the items from the PDS that are driven by hormones primarily of adrenal origin (e.g., DHEA, androstenedione, DHEAS) to contribute to maturation such as axillary hair growth. PDS-Gonadal takes the PDS items driven by gonadal hormones such as testosterone or estradiol. [1]: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24277579/ [2]: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2727719/ [3]: https://pubertal-development-scale.vercel.app/