This paper presents tables for converting raw scores on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development to Mental Development Index and Psychomotor Development Index values. The tables were developed to generate index values for young children with developmental delays, based on recent revision of the scales and standardization procedures. Methodology is…

Adaptive behavior ratings of children with mental retardation by either parents (N=22) or teachers (N=22) were compared using the Adaptive Behavior Scale--School Edition. Findings indicated no significant differences in parents' and teachers' ratings in the categories assessed or in the importance ascribed to the behaviors evaluated. (Author/DB)

Thirty-seven adults with mental retardation and 46 other people from the community participated in videotaped role plays involving 3 social skills (following instructions, accepting criticism, and negotiating to resolve conflicts). There were high positive correlations between the behavioral checklist scores and the evaluations of community…

Relations among instruments used in community mental-health services for people with developmental disabilities were explored with 284 individuals. Correlation coefficients were evaluated for statistical significance and effect size for subtests of the Reiss Screen for Maladaptive Behavior, the Aberrant Behavior Checklist, and the Adaptive…

Development of the Stereotyped Behavior Scale for adolescents and adults with mental retardation is described. Use with 600 individuals resulted in refinement and a 26-item scale with an internal consistency alpha of 0.88, test-retest reliability of p=0.90, and interrater reliability of p=0.76. (DB)

Cluster analysis was performed on the adaptive behavior scores of 2 samples of 200 institutionalized mentally retarded individuals. Three clusters were found to be stable across clustering methods, subject samples, and time points 3 years apart. Cluster membership was meaningfully associated with demographic characteristics and neurological and…

Four papers offer comments on A. Silverstein's paper on cluster analysis of institutionalized mentally retarded individuals, and Silverstein responds to the commentaries. The commentaries examine the soundness of study goals, usefulness of an adaptive behavior classification system, and feasibility of utilizing adaptive behavior measures to…

Twenty-six adolescents with educable mental retardation were identified as good or poor attenders based on teachers' ratings on an attention scale and were administered an auditory vigilance test and Posner's physical and name identity task. Although the vigilance task did not discriminate between groups, the more demanding Posner's task did.…

Utility of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Expanded Form to discriminate among areas of adaptive behavior was substantiated by comparing profiles of scores obtained by 113 individuals with mental retardation and either a communication, social behavior, or motor disorder. Results support the use of the Vineland Scales in ecological evaluation…

Measures of 4traits (cognitive competence, social competence, social maladaption, and personal maladaption) were obtained on 157 persons with mental retardation, using 3 measurements: standardized assessment instrument, day shift staff ratings, and evening shift staff ratings. The multitrait-multimethod matrix procedure demonstrated strong…