Informants' rating, self-report questionnaires and observers' ratings were compared in the assessment of assertive skills of five mildly retarded young adults. Of the three standard assertion scales administered, only the Wolpe-Lazarus correlated positively with behavioral ratings obtained from role-playing. Scores on the Wolpe-Lazarus scale, however, were negatively correlated with those obtained on the Rathus and Adult Self-expression scales. Neither the informants' ratings nor self-reports correlated with behavioral ratings. These data suggest a multi-modal assessment of assertive behavior is needed. The implications for treatment and further research are considered.
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