The BCBA Task List (5th and 6th Edition) requires behavior analysts are familiar with multiple assessment methods, including tools to assess the function of problem behaviors and assess skill strengths and deficits. Although several studies exist on the assessment of functions using indirect functional assessments, descriptive functional…

Social, emotional, and behavioral (SEB) instruments are currently used in schools to screen, refer, and progress monitor students. Although many of these instruments have demonstrated strong technical adequacy, there has been far less examination of their consequential validity--that is, positive or negative intended and unintended consequences of…

Behavior rating scales represent one of the most commonly used types of assessments in school psychology. Yet, they suffer from a fundamental limitation: They are an indirect methodology influenced partially by student behavior and partially by rater perspectives. Thus, the current study utilized advanced analytic approaches to evaluate rater…

The purpose of this study was to provide preliminary analysis of reliability and validity of scores on the "Self-Efficacy Self-Report Scale", which was designed to assess general self-efficacy in students aged 10 to 17 years. Confirmatory factor analysis on cross-validated samples was conducted revealing a marginal fit of the data to the…

Psychometric evaluation of the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales (PKBS) is reported. Factor analyses indicated the presence of a stable factor structure for both social skills and problem behaviors scales. Reliability studies indicated the PKBS has adequate-to-strong stability. Explorations of within-scale relationships yielded evidence…

A functional screening and identification system for behavior problems among preschool children, ages 3 through 5, was assessed with 2,853 children from regular and special education preschool and kindergarten classrooms in 8 states. The Early Screening Project procedure was found to provide reliable, accurate, and cost-effective screening. (SW)

Rating scales of the "scaled behavioral expectation" type were developed to measure the constructs of independence and initiative, conscientiousness, enthusiasm, critical facility, teaching skills, research and experimentation, communication, and persistence. The scales were used by faculty in three psychology departments, two chemistry…

A multidimensional scaling technique was used to assess the content and construct validity of a behavioral rating scale constructed to measure appropriate and inappropriate classroom behavior. The authors argue for the validity of the scale and the use of multidimensional scaling in resolving validity problems in behavior analysis. (Author/JKS)

This report documents the statistical evidence concerning the validity of teacher and parent ratings on The Five P's (Parent/Professional Preschool Performance Profile). Data from 2 studies were obtained from 55 disabled children at the Variety Preschooler's Workshop during 1988-89 and from 370 disabled children at 9 schools across the country…

This paper reports the results of the validity studies done on the Five P's (Parent/Professional Preschool Performance Profile), an assessment tool for parents and teachers developed by the Variety Preschooler's Workshop (Syosset, New York) to rate young handicapped children functioning between birth and 5 years of age on their observed…

In a single questionnaire, students reported their ideal frequency of occurrence (I-scores) for common teaching behaviors, the observed frequency of occurrence (0-scores), their evaluation of an "outstanding" to "poor" scale for each behavior expressed as a teaching attribute (E-score), and their overall evaluation of the…

Four dimensions (Contact, Consciousness, Interest, and Fantasy) of the Creativity Classification System (CCS) have demonstrated high validity in identifying fourth- to sixth-grade students for an enrichment program. An identification procedure for use at the high school level is explained in relation to CCS. (Author/DB)

A modified multitrait-multimethod validation matrix was generated to evaluate the construct validity of the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS). Results were consistent with the use of RCMAS as a measure of chronic, manifest anxiety levels in children. Large correlations occurred with other trait measures of anxiety. (Author/PN)

This is a general discussion of the validity, reliability, function, and format of questionnaires designed to measure problem behavior, noncompliance, anxiety, social interaction, hyperactivity, drug use, and sexual behavior. Commonly used questionnaires are cited. (CP)

The Walker/Severson Systematic Screening for Behavior Disorders measure was revised for use with preschool children. The revision consists of three hierarchical stages of increasingly time-consuming methodologies: (1) teacher rankings, (2) teacher ratings, and (3) direct behavioral observations. Testing with 121 children demonstrated significant…