The Nature and Structure of the Das: Questioning the Test's Organizing Model and Use

Abstract

The Differential Ability Scales (DAS) is a scale developed in the British empirical tradition and is purported to be useful in making educational decisions for children. This reaction focuses on and questions the DAS factor structure, the developmental theme of differentiation of abilities, and the role of the achievement subtests in the model of human abilities espoused in the DAS. The reaction concludes with a discussion of five areas of practical concern. These areas of concern are framed as questions: the racial differences question, the classification/diagnostic utility question, the ability-achievement discrepancy question, the profile development and use question, and the treatment validity question. Significant information relative to each of these questions is needed for the DAS before consumers can use the instrument meaningfully.