Validating GO4KIDDS as a brief measure of adaptive skills in special education settings for children with severe intellectual disability

Abstract

Background: Adaptive skills measures tend to be lengthy. The GO4KIDDS (Great Outcomes for Kids Impacted by Severe Developmental Disabilities; (Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 58, 2015 and 594)) Brief Adaptive Behaviour Scale was developed to provide a brief assessment of adaptive skills. Our study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of G04KIDDS Brief Adaptive Scale in a large sample of children in special education.

Methods: Teachers reported on 361 students with severe to profound intellectual disability. The scale's factor structure was examined through principal components analysis (PCA), while its convergent validity was examined in relation to the Vineland (VABS-II; Vineland-II adaptive behavior scales, Circle Pines, MN, AGS and 2005).

Results: The PCA indicated a single component measuring overall adaptive skills, which had excellent internal consistency (alpha = 0.93), and convergent validity (Pearson's r = 0.81).

Conclusions: Teacher-reported scores on GO4KIDDS Brief Behaviour Scale can provide a reliable and valid composite of adaptive skills in children with severe to profound intellectual disability. The scale will be useful to researchers and teachers who need a brief descriptive assessment of adaptive functioning.

Keywords: GO4KIDDS; adaptive skills; intellectual disability; special school; teacher.