Analysis of the AAMD Adaptive Behavior Scale: public school version.

Area of Science:

• Special Education
• Psychometrics
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• State agencies mandate assessments of verbal, performance, and adaptive behaviors for special education placement.
• The AAMD Adaptive Behavior Scale: Public School Version is a key instrument in these evaluations.
• Previous validation data for the scale is essential for accurate student assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a normative and validation study of the AAMD Adaptive Behavior Scale: Public School Version.
• To assess the instrument's effectiveness in discriminating between regular and special education students.
• To explore the utility of a shortened version and the total score for placement decisions.

Main Methods:

• A normative and validation study was conducted with 291 subjects in southcentral Texas.
• Data were collected from white and nonwhite regular and special education students aged 8, 10, and 12.
• Results were compared against the original AAMD manual's normative data.

Main Results:

• The AAMD Adaptive Behavior Scale demonstrated effectiveness in discriminating between regular and special education groups.
• A shortened version of the scale may be practical for wider use.
• The derived total score proved useful as a cut-off for special education placement.

Conclusions:

• The AAMD Adaptive Behavior Scale is a valid instrument for differentiating student educational placements.
• A modified or shortened version could enhance practical application.
• The scale's total score provides a reliable benchmark for identifying students needing special education services for the mentally retarded.