Development of Brief Rating Scales for Progress Monitoring Internalizing Behavior

Y

35

Institute of Education Sciences (ED)

R324A150071

Psychometrics; Behavior Rating Scales; Progress Monitoring; Observation; Student Behavior; Elementary School Students; Anxiety; Depression (Psychology); Withdrawal (Psychology); Children; Response to Intervention; Teacher Attitudes; Test Reliability; Construct Validity; Test Construction

10.1177/10634266211039761

Prevalence estimates suggest that up to 20% of students in schools experience significant internalizing behaviors that impact behavioral, social or academic functioning. School-based interventions have great potential to promote student mental health; however, validated and feasible brief assessments are needed to progress monitor students' response to these supports. The purpose of the current study was two-fold to: (1) develop and validate teacher-completed brief rating scales for progress monitoring internalizing concerns in elementary-aged students; and (2) to determine the reliability of the resultant measures. First, item content was generated and subjected to evaluation by two panels of school-based consumers and researchers. Within the second phase of development, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to reduce the initial number of items and ensure that the items were indicators of one latent factor. Teachers in grades K through 3rd (N = 307) each completed ratings for one randomly-selected student in their classroom. Results of factor analysis for each scale indicated one-factor solutions for the 4-item Anxious/Depressed ([omega] = 0.88) and 4-item Socially Withdrawn ([omega] = 0.87) scales. [For the corresponding journal article, see EJ1349677]

As Provided

Yes

2021

ED614791