ERIC Number: EJ1192149
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0279-6015
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Universal Screening for Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Risk in Students: DESSA-Mini Risk Stability over Time and Its Implications for Screening Procedures
Kilpatrick, Kayla D.; Maras, Melissa A.; Brann, Kristy L.; Kilgus, Stephen P.
School Psychology Review, v47 n3 p244-257 2018
The first purpose of the current study was to examine the defensibility of common recommendations for the frequency of screening administrations. The second purpose was to examine the internal consistency and criterion-related validity of the Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA)-mini (Naglieri, LeBuffe, & Shapiro, 2011a), a strength-based social-emotional and behavioral (SEB) risk screening tool. Specifically, the current study examined the defensibility of the oft-recommended triannual screening schedule, while also evaluating alternative screening schedules (i.e., once and twice per year). Participants included 525 students sampled across 2 rural midwestern elementary schools. Teachers completed the DESSA-mini across 3 time periods throughout the school year. Schools provided data for outcome variables, including student attendance, reading scores, and office discipline referrals (ODRs). Analyses revealed (a) adequate internal consistency and alternate forms reliability of DESSA-mini scores, and (b) small to moderate relations between DESSA-mini scores and the various outcomes. Findings also suggested strength-based SEB risk status was relatively stable over the 3 screening periods. Furthermore, generalized linear modeling and classification accuracy analyses indicated that after accounting for fall screening scores, winter and spring screening scores contributed little to the prediction of the outcome variables. Limitations and implications for practice are discussed.
Descriptors: Screening Tests, At Risk Persons, Social Development, Emotional Response, Student Behavior, Rural Schools, Elementary School Students, Student Records, Test Reliability, Test Validity, Psychometrics, Student Characteristics
National Association of School Psychologists. 4340 East West Highway Suite 402, Bethesda, MD 20814. Tel: 301-657-0270; Fax: 301-657-0275; e-mail: publications@naspweb.org; Web site: http://www.nasponline.org/publications/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A