Dependability and Treatment Sensitivity of Multi-Item Direct Behavior Rating Scales for Interpersonal Peer Conflict

SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://sagepub.com

Y

12

Conflict; Peer Relationship; Behavior Rating Scales; Student Evaluation; Teacher Attitudes; Elementary School Students; Decision Making; Drug Therapy; Factor Analysis; Student Behavior; Outcomes of Treatment; Behavior Disorders; Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Correlation; Generalization; Statistical Analysis

10.1177/1534508417698456

1534-5084

Direct behavior rating (DBR) represents a feasible method for monitoring student behavior in the classroom; however, limited work to date has focused on the use of multi-item scales. The purposes of the study were to examine the (a) dependability of data obtained from a multi-item DBR designed to assess peer conflict and (b) treatment sensitivity of Direct Behavior Rating Multi-Item Scales (DBR-MIS) constructed using factor-derived and individualized methods. Analyses were performed using teacher ratings of 65 students (53 boys, 12 girls) between 6 and 12 years old. Results of decision studies indicated that an acceptable criterion of dependability (? > 0.70) for low-stakes, intraindividual decision making could be achieved using a three-item scale across eight occasions, a four- or five-item scale across four occasions, or a six-item scale across three occasions. Subsequent analyses verified that a six-item DBR demonstrated acceptable treatment sensitivity when ratings were conducted on 3 days during baseline and 3 days during treatment with methylphenidate. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

As Provided

46

2017

EJ1160517