Development and Validation of Disruptive Behavior Scales for the Student Behavior Survey (SBS)

Abstract

This study evaluated the 102 items of the Student Behavior Survey (SBS; Lachar, Kline, Wingenfeld, & Gruber, 1995). The SBS is a teacher behavioral rating scale that can be used with the parent-informant Personality Inventory for Children, the student-informant Personality Inventory for Youth (Lachar & Gruber, 1995; Wirt, Lachar, Klinedinst, & Seat, 1984), or as a stand-alone instrument. Three disruptive behavior scales (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity, Oppositional Defiant, and Conduct Problems), developed through consensual nomination to DSM-IV criteria, obtained empirical support for item placement and demonstrated positive psychometric properties. These scales possessed excellent internal consistency and adequate temporal stability and interrater reliability. Student gender, age, and referral status affected scale elevation in expected ways. These three SBS scales also obtained strong correlations with conceptually related independent measures and discriminated among subgroups of clinical and special education students.