Publication Date

8-1-2007

Degree Program

Department of Psychology

Degree Type

Education Specialist

Abstract

This study investigates the use of the Developmental Checklist (DC) of the Developmental Observation Checklist System (DOCS; Hresko, Miguel, Sherbenou, & Burton, 1994) as a screening measure for children birth to three years of age. Kentucky regulations require the use of the DC for screening in the KEIS-First Steps program, yet there is little information regarding the effectiveness of the measure as a screening tool. Evaluation data are presented for 51 children between the ages of 2 and 35 months on the DC and the Battelle Developmental Inventory, 2nd Edition (BDI-2; Newborg, 2005). The DC and BDI-2 domains evidence no significant correlations for this sample. However, significant moderate to strong intracorrelations were evidenced within each measure. Analysis of contingency table components using the BDI-2 as the criterion measure yield specificity (percentage of true negatives) and sensitivity (percentage of true positives) for cutoff standard scores of 94, 85, and 77 on the DC. The number of accurate referrals and accurate nonreferrals comprise the classification consistency between the two measures. Adequate sensitivity (above 80%) is evidenced at the most liberal cutoff for the DC (standard score < 94) at both BDI-2 placement criterions (I'A and 2 SD below the mean) for all domain comparisons. However, there is a cost of less than adequate specificity at this level (94 or below). Good sensitivity was also evidenced for one additional comparison, the Adaptive/Social comparison at the 2 SD BDI-2 criterion with the 85 cutoff on the DC. Classification consistency was not evident at 1 Yi SD on the two domains criterion on the BDI-2 for even the most liberal DC cutoff score (standard score <94). However, sensitivity levels are adequate for all domain comparisons at the liberal cutoff standard score of < 94. The results indicate concern for the use for the DC with the BDI-2 using anything but the most liberal cutoff on the DC. A discussion of practical implication for use of the DC questions the use of the DC with the BDI-2 and provides suggestions for further research with the DC.

Disciplines

Education | Psychology

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