The purpose of this study was to develop a paramorphic representation of the clinical decision-making procedure used by psychologists in combining IQ and adaptive behavior information to arrive at a diagnosis of degree of mental retardation. The data consisted of the clinical judgments formed by 8 psychologists on 180 mentally retarded individuals. The psychologist-assigned levels of mental retardation classifications were regressed on IQ and 23 domain scores from the Adaptive Behavior Scale. IQ alone had a correlation of .83 with this classification. A linear combination of IQ, Independent Functioning, Vocational Activity, Physical Development, and Economic Activity resulted in a multiple correlation of .87. Various interpretations of these results are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Adams, J.Adaptive behavior and measured intelligence in the classification of mental retardation. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 1973, 78, 77-81.
2.
Altemose, J.R., & Williamson, K.B.Clinical judgment versus the computer: Can the school psychologist be replaced by a machine?Psychology in the Schools, 1972, 78, 93-102.
3.
Anderson, N.H.Looking for configurality in clinical judgment. Psychological Bulletin, 1972, 78, 93-102.
4.
Arkes, H.R.Impediments to accurate clinical judgment and possible ways to minimize their impact. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1981, 49, 323-330.
5.
Arndt, S. A general measure of adaptive behavior. American Journal of Mental Deficiency , 1981, 85, 554-556.
6.
Bean, A.G., & Roszkowski, M.J.Item-domain relationships in the Adaptive Behavior Scale (ABS). Applied Research in Mental Retardation, 1982, 3, 359-367.
7.
Berk, R.A.An evaluation of the validity and reliability of adaptive behavior scales . Journal of Special Educators, 1981, 17, 254-263.
8.
Clausen, J.The continuing problem of defining mental deficiency. Journal of Special Education, 1972, 6, 97-106. (a)
9.
Clausen, J.Quo vadis, AAMD? Journal of Special Education, 1972, 6, 51-60. (b)
10.
Coulter, W.A.Adaptive behavior and professional disfavor: Controversies and trends for school psychologists. School Psychology Review, 1980, 9, 67-74.
11.
Coulter, W.A., & Morrow, W.H.One year after implementation: Practitioners' views of adaptive behavior. In W. A. Coulter & W H. Morrow (Eds.), Adaptive behavior: Concepts and measurements . New York: Grune & Stratton , 1978.
12.
Dawes, R.M.The robust beauty of improper linear models in decision making. American Psychologist, 1979, 34, 571-582.-
13.
Eyman, R.K., Meyers, C.E., & Bendel, R.New methods for test selection and reliability assessment using stepwise multiple regression and jackknifing. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 1973, 33, 883-894.
14.
Fogelman, C. (Ed.). AAMD Adaptive Behavior Scale Manual. Washington, D.C.: American Association on Mental Deficiency, 1975.
15.
Goldberg, L.R.Simple models or simple processes? Some research on clinical judgments. American Psychologist, 1968, 23, 483-496.
16.
Goldberg, L.R.Man versus model of man: A rationale plus evidence for a method of improving on clinical inferences. Psychological Bulletin, 1970, 73, 422-432.
17.
Grossman, H. J. (Ed.). Manual on terminology and classification in mental retardation. Washington, D.C. : American Association on Mental Deficiency, 1977.
Isett, R., & Spreat, S.Test-retest and interrater reliabilities of the AAMD Adaptive Behavior Scale . American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 1979 , 84, 93-95.
20.
Junkala, J.Teacher assessments and team decisions. Exceptional Children , 1977, 44, 31-32.
21.
Katz-Garris, L., Hadley, T.J., Garris, R.P., & Barnhill, B. A factor-analytic study of the Adaptive Behavior Scale. Psychological Reports, 1980, 47, 807-814.
22.
Matarazzo, J.D.Wechsler's measurement and appraisal of adult intelligence (5th ed.). Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1972.
23.
McDermott, P.A.Sources of error in the psychoeducational diagnosis of children. Journal of School Psychology, 1981, 19, 31-44.
24.
McDevitt, S.C., McDevitt, S.C., & Rosen, M.Adaptive Behavior Scale, Part II: A cautionary note and suggestions for revision . American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 1977 , 82, 210-212.
25.
Meyers, C.E., Nihira, K., & Zetlin, A.The measurement of adaptive behavior. In N. R. Ellis (Ed.), Handbook of mental deficiency: Psychological theory and research (2nd ed.). Hillsdale, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates , 1979.
26.
Nagler, B. A change in terms or in concepts ? A small step forward or a giant step backward?Journal of Special Education, 1972, 6, 61-64.
27.
Nie, N.H., Hull, C.H., Jenkins, J.G., Steinbrenner, K., & Bent, D.H.SPSS: Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1975.
28.
Nihira, K., Foster, R., Shellhaas, M., & Leland, H.AAMD Adaptive Behavior Scale. Washington, D.C.: American Association on Mental Deficiency, 1974.
29.
Prillaman, D.An analysis of placement factors in classes for the educable mentally retarded . Exceptional Children, 1975, 42, 107-108.
30.
Rosen, M., Clark, G.R., & Kivitz, M.S.Habilitation of the handicapped: New dimensions in programs for the developmentally disabled. Baltimore: University Park Press, 1977.
31.
Roszkowski, M.J., & Bean, A.G.The Adaptive Behavior Scale (ABS) and IQ: How much unshared variance is there?Psychology in the Schools, 1980, 17, 452-459.
32.
Silverstein, A.B.Note on prevalence. American Journal of Mental Deficiency , 1973, 77, 380-382.
33.
Smith, J.D., & Polloway, E.A.The dimension of adaptive behavior in mental retardation research: An analysis of recent practices. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 1979, 84, 203-206.
34.
Spreat, S.The Adaptive Behavior Scale: A study of criterion validity. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 1980, 85, 61-68.
35.
Spreat, S.The AAMD Adaptive Behavior Scale: A psychometric review. Journal of School Psychology, 1982, 20, 45-56.
36.
Spreat, S., Roszkowski, M.J., & Isett, R.Assessment of adaptive behavior in the mentally retarded. In J. Matson, S. Bruening, & R. P. Barrett (Eds.), Advances in mental retardation and developmental disabilities. New York: JAI Press, 1983.
37.
Wiggins, J. S. Clinical and statistical prediction : Where are we and where do we go from here?Clinical Psychology Review, 1981, 1, 3-18.
