SSBD (Systematic Screening for Behavior Disorders)

Developer: Walker & Severson | Year: 2014.0

Overview

A tool used to identify students at risk for externalizing and internalizing problems. In Stage 1 educators rank order their class along the two dimensions. In Stage 2, three scales are used to determine if students exceed normative criteria (scales: Critical Events Index, Adaptive Behavior Rating Scale, Maladaptive Behavior Rating Scales). Typically, three students in each category move on to Stage 2.

Key Details

Grade Level

PreK-9

Assessment Type

Diagnostic Universal

Domains Assessed

Externalizing Behaviors Internalizing Behaviors

Respondent

Educator

Method

Digital Paper/Pencil

Cost

$11 per classroom screening packet

Time per Student

10 min

Items

In Stage 1, 5 students are nominated. In Stage 2, educators complete 56 items for 6 students (3 on the Internalizing Behavior Form and 3 on the Externalizing Behavior Form).

Item Format

Rank Order / Frequency / Checklist

Approach

Dual-Factor

Populations

Initial evidence for the SSBD was gathered from samples of elementary students in the Pacific Northwest (Walker et al., 1990).

Scoring

Overall Scores

Combined Frequency Index

Subscale Scores

Externalizing & Internalizing Behavior Forms include an Adaptive and Maladaptive Behavior index.

Scoring Procedures

Self-scored

Interpretive Information

Degree of Risk

Psychometric Properties

Reliability

In its development, the SSBD was found to have adequate interrater reliability (r = .48) and test-retest reliability (r = .35) for internalizing problems in Stage 1; false positives and negative error rates were also found to be low (4% and 9%, respectively; Feil et al., 1995; Walker et al., 2014)

Validity

In developing the measure, Walker et al. (1990) found robust factorial, criterion-related, and discriminant validity.

References

Primary Citation

Walker, H. M., Severson, H. H., & Feil, E. G. (2014). Systematic screening for behavior disorders (SSBD) technical manual: Universal screening for preK-9 (2nd ed.). Pacific Northwest Publishing.

Additional Citations

Feil, E. G., Walker, H. M., & Severson, H. H. (1995). The early screening project for young children with behavior problems. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 3(4), 194-202. https://doi.org/10.1177/106342669500300401

Walker, H. M., Severson, H. H., Todis, B. J., Block-Pedego, A. E., Williams, G. J., Haring, N. G., & Barckley, M. (1990). Systematic Screening for Behavior Disorders (SSBD): Further Validation, Replication, and Normative Data: Further Validation, Replication, and Normative Data. Remedial and Special Education, 11(2), 32-46. https://doi.org/10.1177/074193259001100206

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