This Introduction to the JPA special issue Assessing Resiliency in Children and Adolescents presents measurement issues encountered in the past as well as criteria for currently needed user friendly measures. These criteria include the following: (a) tools should be based on developmentally appropriate factors of resiliency that are well grounded in theory, (b) should be brief, user friendly and easy to administer, applicable for group and individual use, (c) should be theoretically and practically linked to intervention and (d) be psychometrically sound. Four tools for assessing strengths/resiliency are introduced and discussed in articles that follow in the Special Issue.
Doll, B., Kurien, S., LeClair, C., Spies, R., Champion, A., & Osborn, A. ( 2009). The ClassMaps Survey: A framework for promoting positive classroom environments. In R. Gilman, S. Huebner, & M. Furlong (Eds.), Handbook of positive psychology in the schools (pp. 213-227). New York, NY: Routledge.
2.
Doll, B., Spies, R., Champion, A., Guerrero, C., Dooley, K., & Turner, A. ( 2010). The ClassMaps Survey: A measure of middle school science students’ perceptions of classroom characteristics. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 28, 338-348.
3.
Doll, B., Spies, R.A., LeClair, C., Kurien, S., & Foley, B.P. (in press). Assessing classroom learning environments: Development of the ClassMaps Survey. School Psychology Review.
4.
Doll, B., Zucker, S., & Brehm, K. ( 2004). Resilient classrooms: Creating healthier environments for learning. New York: Guilford Press.
5.
Garmezy, N., Masten, A.S., & Tellegen, A. ( 1984). The study of stress and competence in children: A building block for developmental psychopathology. Child Development , 55, 97-111.
6.
Kumar, G., Steer, R.A. & Gulab, N.A. ( 2010) Profiles of Personal Resiliency in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatients. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment .
7.
LeBuffe, P., & Naglieri, J.A. (2003). The Devereux Early Childhood Assessment Clinical Form (DECA-C). Lewisville, NC: Kaplan Press.
8.
LeBuffe, P.A., Shapiro, V. & Naglieri, J.A. ( 2008). Devereux Student Strengths Assessment. Lewisville, NC: Kaplan Press.
9.
Luthar, S.S. ( 1991). Vulnerability and resilience: A study of high-risk adolescents . Child Development, 62, 600-616.
10.
Luthar, S.S., Cicchetti, D.C., & Becker, B. ( 2000). The construct of resilience: A critical evaluation and guidelines for future work. Child Development, 71, 543-562.
11.
Luthar, S.S., & Zelazo, L.B. ( 2003). Research on resilience: An integrative review. In S. S. Luthar (Ed.), Resilience and vulnerability: Adaptation in the context of childhood adversities. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
12.
Masten, A.S. ( 2001). Ordinary magic: Resilience processes in development. The American Psychologist, 56, 227-238.
13.
Masten, A.S., & Powell, J.L. ( 2003). A resilience framework for research, policy, and practice . In S. S. Luthar (Ed.), Resilience and vulnerability: Adaptation in the context of childhood adversities (pp. 1-25). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
14.
Mowder, M., Cummings, J., & McKinney, R. ( 2010). Resiliency Scales for Children and Adolescents: Profiles of juvenile offenders. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment , 28, 326-337.
15.
Naglieri, J., Goldstein, S., & LeBuffe, P. ( 2010). An exploratory study of resilience factors and situational impairment. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 28, 349-356.
16.
Oades-Sese, G., & Kaliski, P. ( 2010). Factor structure of the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment Clinical Form in low-income Hispanic American bilingual preschool children . Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 28, 357-372.
17.
Prince-Embury, S. ( 2007). Resiliency Scales for Children and Adolescents: Profiles of personal strengths. San Antonio, TX: Harcourt Assessments.
18.
Prince-Embury, S. ( 2010). Psychometric properties of the Resiliency Scales for Children and Adolescents in youth with psychiatric disorders. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 28, 291-302.
19.
Prince-Embury, S., & Steer, R. ( 2010). Profiles of personal resiliency as assessed by the Resiliency Scales for Children and Adolescents. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 28, 303-314.
20.
Rutter, M., Harrington, R., Quinton, D., & Pickles, A. ( 1994). Adult outcome of conduct disorder in childhood: Implications for concepts and definitions of patterns of psychopathology. In R. D. Ketterlinus & M. E. Lamb (Eds.), Adolescent problem behaviors: Issues and research (pp. 57 -80). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
21.
Werner, E.E., & Smith, R.S. ( 1982). Vulnerable but invincible: A longitudinal study of resilient children and youth. New York: McGraw-Hill .
22.
Werner, E.E., & Smith, R.S. ( 1992). Overcoming the odds: High risk children from birth to adulthood. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
23.
Werner, E.E., & Smith, R.S. ( 2001). Journeys from childhood to midlife: Risk, resilience, and recovery. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
