Graduate Program

School Psychology

Degree Name

Specialist in School Psychology

Semester of Degree Completion

2001

Thesis Director

Gary L. Canivez

Abstract

The Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC) and the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales (PKBS) are two relatively new behavior assessment scales that measure emotional and behavioral problems of children. The BASC is designed to evaluate the behavior and self-perceptions of children aged two and a half to eighteen years old. The PKBS is designed to evaluate social skills and problem behavior patterns of preschool and kindergarten aged children including the ages of three, four, five, and six years old. There are no studies in the empirical literature comparing the preschool form of the BASC and the PKBS behavior rating scales. The present study examined the construct validity of the BASC and PKBS teacher behavior rating scales. Preschool and kindergarten samples were assessed using the preschool form of the BASC and the PKBS. A sample of 3 to 5 year olds (N = 145) from both private and public preschools were participants in the study. Preschool teachers were asked to complete both scales for randomly selected children in their preschool classroom. Comparisons between the two scales were studied through Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients. In addition, dependent t-tests were conducted to determine if significant differences between the scales were present. Results indicated that correlations between similar scales of the BASC and PKBS were mostly in the moderate to high range. These results provided additional evidence for the construct validity of the BASC and PKBS. The results of this study support the BASC and PKBS rating scales are both able to assess children's emotional and behavioral health and provide similar results.

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