Inquiry into the Commonality of Items from Seven Behavior Rating Scales: A Preliminary Examination

Abstract

The literature suggests that there exists a need for fewer but more clearly defined subgroupings in behavior rating instruments. The present study focuses on the items from seven behavior rating instruments in an effort to organize the items conceptually into as few behavior clusters as possible. The procedures utilized extensive card sort activities and a panel of experts who examined each of the items and made decisions regarding subgroup placement of the items. The findings provide one way to organize behavior descriptors and thereby unify behavior rating as recommended by several authors. In addition, the classification of behaviors provides the field with a conceptual organization which may form the basis for future conceptual and empirical activities.