A Cross-Ethnic Validity Study of the Shortform Assessment for Children (SAC)

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the cross-ethnic measurement equivalence of the Shortform Assessment for Children (SAC) using a sample of 562 African American and 692 White children. Method: A prospective, two-panel survey design was used in this study. Baseline and 6-month follow-up data were used to conduct analyses of the reliability and validity of the SAC for each group. Results: Alpha reliabilities and test-retest reliabilities for the full scale and for each subscale (i.e., externalizing and internalizing) were good for both groups. There were more similarities than there were differences between the two groups in terms of criterion validity. Factorial equivalence findings suggested that the factor structure of the SAC was equivalent across the two groups. Conclusions: The SAC is a valid behavioral rating scale that can be used by social work practitioners and service providers working with African American and White children in the child welfare and juvenile system.