BESS (Behavioral and Emotional Screening System)
Developer: Kamphaus & Reynolds | Year: 2015.0
Overview
The BASC-3 BESS is designed to quickly and efficiently assess the Behavioral and emotional risks and overall mental health status of children ages 3:0 to 18:11. The BASC-3 BESS is a general measure of functioning in settings where it is prohibitive to administer longer BASC-3 TRS/PRS/SRP forms. It is generally used as an intake screener in private practice or as a group-wide screening tool (Tier 1) in schools.
Key Details
Grade Level
Assessment Type
Domains Assessed
Respondent
Method
Cost
Fee for Service
Time per Student
5-10 minutes
Items
25-30
Item Format
Frequency
Approach
Dual Factor
Populations
Evidence for the second edition is based on samples of high school, middle school, and elementary school students. Evidence for the current edition is based on a sample of 210 predominantly Lantinx elementary students.
Scoring
Overall Scores
Total
Subscale Scores
Behavioral and Emotional Risk Index
Externalizing Risk Index
Internalizing Risk Index
Adaptive Skills Risk Index
Self-regulation Risk Index
Personal Adjustment Risk Index
Scoring Procedures
Manual; Scoring Service
Interpretive Information
Norm-Referenced on a Nationally Representative Sample
Psychometric Properties
Reliability
The 5-month test–retest reliability coefficients were large (>.50; Cohen, 1992) for the overall T-score (r = .66 and p < .001), internalizing problems (r = .65 and p < .001), SR (r = .55 and p < .001), and PA (r = .55 and p < .001). At both time points (Fall and Spring, respectively), internal consistency coefficients were adequate to strong (Cortina, 1993) for the full BASC-3 BESS (α = .90 and α = .89), internalizing problems (α = .84 and α = .81), SR (α = .76 and α = .77), and PA (α = .79 and α = .80).
Validity
An exploratory principal factor analysis with a promax rotation was conducted as a test of construct validity. Of the 28 items, three exhibited significant cross-loadings; two of these items were those that were not meant to contribute to any of the three indices, and the third was an internalizing item that cross-loaded onto the PA factor. Two items did not load onto any factor; one was not meant to contribute to any of the three indices, whereas the other was intended to be part of the SR index. The remaining 23 items loaded onto exactly one factor. However, one internalizing item loaded onto the PA factor, one SR item loaded onto the internalizing factor, and one PA item loaded onto the SR factor in this analysis. To test predictive validity, overall BESS scores and the three BESS index scores (SR, internalizing, and PA) in the Fall were correlated with Spring outcomes (PSSA achievement tests in math and reading, ODRs, and suspensions). The overall BESS score was predictive of math achievement (r = −.17 and p < .05), reading achievement (r = −.19 and p < .01), and ODRs (r = .14 and p < .05) in the expected directions. To test concurrent validity, overall BESS scores and the three BESS index scores (SR, internalizing, and PA) in the Spring were correlated with Spring outcomes (PSSA achievement tests in math and reading, ODRs, and suspensions). The overall BESS score was associated with concurrent reading achievement (r = −.16 and p < .05) in the expected direction.
References
Primary Citation
Kamphaus R. W., Reynolds C. R. (2015). Behavior Assessment System for Children—Third Edition (BASC-3): Behavioral and Emotional Screening System (BESS). Bloomington, MN: Pearson.
Additional Citations
Harrell-Williams, L. M., Raines, T. C., Kamphaus, R. W., & Dever, B. V. (2015). Psychometric analysis of the BASC–2 Behavioral and Emotional Screening System (BESS) student form: Results from high school student samples. Psychological Assessment, 27(2), 738–743. https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0000079
Dever, B. V., & Gaier, K. (2020). Psychometric properties of the Behavior Assessment System for Children-3 Behavioral and Emotional Screening System Student-Report Form among a predominantly Latinx elementary school sample. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 39(1), 128-133. https://doi-org.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/10.1177/0734282920951065