Adaptive behavior measures in mental retardation research: subject description in AJMD/AJMR articles (1979-1987)

Practices in reporting measures of adaptive behavior and intellectual functioning of participants in mental retardation research were investigated. Articles published in the American Journal of Mental Deficiency/American Journal on Mental Retardation from 1979-1987 were examined. Despite some similarities in salient findings, the differences between the 1979-1987 period and those reported in Smith and Polloway (1979) indicated several changes in reporting measures of both adaptive behavior and intellectual functioning. In our discussion we addressed the attention given to specific recommendations made by Smith and Polloway (1979). Implications for future research were suggested.