Graduate Program
School Psychology
Degree Name
Specialist in School Psychology
Semester of Degree Completion
2004
Thesis Director
Gary L. Canivez
Abstract
The present study examined the distinct group differences and discriminant validity of the Adjustment Scales for Children and Adolescents (ASCA). Participants included 36 children in Kindergarten through eleventh grade. Twenty-seven of the children met DISC-IV I DSM-IV (DSM-IV-TR, 2000) criteria for ADHD, and 9 met criteria for ODD. The participants were classified based on the results of the DISC-IV (Shaffer, Fisher, Lucas, Dulcan & Schwab-Stone, 2000) interview completed with the parent. The referring classroom teacher then completed the ASCA. Results of the present study did not support the distinct group differences and thus the discriminant validity of the ASCA. The results of the MANOVA/ANOVA did not show distinct differences between the ADHD and the ODD groups. Students in the ADHD group had slightly higher scores on the ADH syndrome of the ASCA (∆ = .133), while students in the ODD group had slightly higher scores on the OPD syndrome of the ASCA (∆ = .330). However, these results were not significant. Results from the present study were likely affected by low power due to a small sample size.
Recommended Citation
Miller, Kim D., "Distinct Group Differences and Discriminant Validity of the Adjustment Scales for Children and Adolescents: Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder versus Oppositional Defiant Disorder" (2004). Masters Theses. 1344.
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/1344
