Convergent and Divergent Validity of the Adjustment Scales for Children and Adolescents and the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales

Abstract

Convergent and divergent (construct) validity of the Adjustment Scales for Children and Adolescents (ASCA) and the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales (PKBS) is reported. With a random sample of 154 five- and six-year-old children rated by 16 classroom teachers in a Midwestern state, convergent evidence of construct validity was provided for the PKBS Externalizing Problems scale and the ASCA Overactivity syndrome. Divergent evidence of construct validity was provided for the PKBS Externalizing Problems scale and ASCA Underactivity syndrome. Convergent and divergent evidence of construct validity for the PKBS Internalizing Problems scale and ASCA Overactivity and Underactivity syndromes was mixed. Specific scale comparisons found the ASCA to result in significantly higher mean ratings than the PKBS in 9 of 10 specific comparisons, and the effect sizes 112 were moderate to large.