A modified Rutter children's behaviour questionnaire. Its reliability and validity in screening for behaviour...

The Rutter Children's Behaviour Questionnaire was completed by the teachers of 108 Aboriginal pupils at two rural schools in the far west of New South Wales. The questionnaire ratings were compared with a contemporaneous psychiatric study of behaviour disturbance for each child. Some modification of the questionnaire was required because of cultural factors. The modified questionnaire was found to be of acceptable reliability and validity in screening for emotional disturbance in Aboriginal children. It is suggested that it would be a useful case finding instrument for teachers of part-Aboriginal children.