Search

Introduces the Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale (BERS): a Strength-Based Approach to Assessment for use in schools, mental health clinics, and social service agencies. BERS is designed so that adults can accurately and efficiently identify children's behavioral and emotional strengths, rather than their deficits, problems, and pathologies. (MKA)

A national survey of elementary and secondary general education teachers (N = 368, response rate of 52%) was conducted to determine the classroom grading practices of general education teachers, including grading adaptations for students with disabilities. Results of this self-report survey indicated that teachers find letter and number grades more helpful for students without disabilities than for those with disabilities. Results also indicated that teachers find certain grading adaptations - such as pass-fail grades, portfolios, multiple grades, and grading for effort - helpful for students both with and without disabilities. Implications for training, research, and practice are included., Two pervasive trends have deeply affected classroom practices for students with disabilities: an increased emphasis on higher standards and accountability for student performance, and the inclusion of students with disabilities [...]

The present study investigated the psychometric properties of the Scales for Assessing Emotional Disturbance – Third Edition: Rating Scale (SAED‐3 RS), which is designed for use in identifying students with emotional disturbance for special education services. The purposes of this study were to evaluate (a) the measurement invariance of SAED‐3 RS scores between White and African American students and (b) the impact of differential item functioning (DIF) on test scores from the SAED‐3 RS. The sample consisted of 855 K‐12 students from throughout the United States. The findings suggested that SAED‐3 RS items exhibited small to negligible levels of DIF and that DIF did not significantly impact scores. The results supported the SAED‐3 RS, a teacher‐completed rating scale, as relatively consistent in measuring the emotional and behavioral status of school‐age students from different racial backgrounds. Researchers and practitioners can have confidence that scores from the SAED‐3 RS are not substantially affected by DIF when assessing the emotional and behavioral functioning of African American and White school‐age students. Research limitations, future research, and implications for school professionals are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to provide a qualitative review of the published research on the Scales for Assessing Emotional Disturbance-3: Screener noting the psychometric properties and overall findings. Results from 10 studies were reviewed and summarized. Across the studies, internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and inter-rater agreement were satisfactory. Unidimensionality of the tests scores was supported, and several studies reported only trivial degrees of bias across racial/ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. Diagnostic utility was acceptable as were convergent relations with other measures of psychopathology. Social validity was also satisfactory. This review indicates that the psychometric properties of the scores from the Screener meet acceptable professional standards and supports its use in school-based programs to identify at-risk students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To contrast the academic performance of two categorical groups, 16 learning disabled (LD) and 16 behaviorally disordered (BD) 10-year-old pupils were given three standardized achievement tests. Results showed significant differences in 10 of 12 comparisons. BD pupils consistently functioned at a higher grade level than LD pupils. (Authors)

Guidelines are presented for evaluating research in special education. A review of major parts of databased articles focuses on research questions regarding introduction, method, (subjects, measures, procedures) results, and discussion. A checklist of potential problem areas is provided. (Author/CL)

Responses received from 47 nationally recognized authorities in behavior disorders revealed that setting generalization of intervention effects, durability of treatment program and effects, and adolescent programing were the most frequently cited issues needing research attention. Implications for future research and funding activities are discussed. (Author/CL)

Adolescent boys and girls, identified as either behaviorally disordered (N=166) or normal (N=183), were rated by teachers on the Behavior Problem Checklist (BPC), with such results as significant differences for pupil category, BPC dimension, and category by dimension interaction, but no significant differences for sex. (MC)

Regular and special educators evaluated the acceptability of alternative treatments to modify a childhood behavior disorder in two experiments. Teacher status was varied in Experiment I; child disability was varied in Experiment II. Results indicated that in both experiments teachers could distinguish between treatments on the basis of their acceptability. (Author/LMO)