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Modifying the Response Labels of an ADHD Teacher Rating Scale

Psychometric and Epidemiologic Implications

University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, arowland{at}salud.unm.edu

David M. Umbach

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health

E. Michael Bohlig

University of Texas System Administration

Lil Stallone

Social & Scientific Systems

Dale P. Sandler

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health

Objective: To evaluate the impact of changing the response labels of a teacher rating scale in a population-based study of ADHD. Method: For parents, the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children, which asks whether each of 18 symptoms occurred "often" in the past year, was used. For teachers, most scales use a 4-point scale, with often and very often as the two highest categories. To make the two instruments more compatible, the authors created a teacher rating scale with often as the highest category. Teachers rated more than 6,000 elementary school students using this instrument. Some teachers completed ratings using both questionnaire formats. Results: The scale's internal consistency, convergent validity, and test-retest reliability are excellent. The factor structure is consistent with established DSM-IV-based instruments. Response category choices influence the proportion of children exceeding symptom and impairment thresholds. Conclusion: Altering the response scale does not degrade the psychometric properties of the instrument but makes important differences in the sample. (J. of Att. Dis. 2007; 11(3) 384-397 )

Key Words: ADHD • attention deficit disorder • attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity • rating scales • psychometrics • epidemiology • confirmatory factor analysis • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

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