Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition (BASC- 2)

Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition (BASC- 2) Handout

Developed by: Veronica Hardy, Amanda Szapkiw,

Lucinda West, Tracey Phillips, and Debbie Hood

Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition (BASC- 2) Handout

Authors:Reynolds, Cecil R.; Kamphaus, Randy W.

Publisher: AGS Publishing, 4201 Woodland Road, Circle Pines, MN 55014-1796; Telephone: 800-328-2560; FAX: 651-287-7221; E-mail: agsmail@agsnet; Web:

Purpose: To aid in the identification and differential diagnosis of emotional/behavior disorders in children and adolescents

Population: Ages 2:0-21:11 (TRS and PRS); 6:0 through college age (SRP)

Administering Time: 10-20 minutes (TRS and PRS), 30 minutes (SRP)

Description: The Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition (BASC-2), is a behavioral assessment designed for use in evaluating children and adolescents with cognitive, emotional, or learning disabilities. The BASC has a comprehensive set of rating scales and forms that assess child and adolescent behavior from teacher, parent, and self-perspectives. The scales and forms include the Teacher Rating Scales (TRS), Parent Rating Scales (PRS), Self-Report of Personality (SRP), Student Observation System (SOS), and Structured Developmental History (SDH).

Scores/Interpretation:The SRP, the TRS, and the PRS yield scores in T-score units and percentiles based on either a national norm group, by gender in the norm group, or in comparison to clinical population. The ratings produce various scales and composites; these may be contrasted and compared to identify relative strengths and weaknesses. Both the SDH and the SOS have no norms and little specific guidance for how they are to be interpreted, relying on the users' professional training.

Reliability: Test-retest reliability during a 1-month period.

Validity: Internal consistency of .80 with children and .90 with adolescents.

Norms: Based on the latest U.S. Census population characteristics.

Suggested Usage: Designed "to facilitate the differential diagnosis and educational classification of a variety of emotional and behavioral disorders of children and to aid in the design of treatment plans." School and clinical psychologists as well as mental therapists can use this assessment to differentiate between hyperactivity and attention problems. It can identify behavior problems as required by IDEA and used for the development of Functional Behavioral Assessments, Behavioral Intervention Plans, and Individualized Educational Plans.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text revision). Washington, DC: Author.

Doyle, A., Ostrander, R., Skare, S., Crosby, R.D., & August, G. J. (1997). Convergent and criterion related validity of the Behavior Assessment System for Children-Parent Rating Scale. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 26, 276-284.

Reynolds, C. R., & Kamphaus, R. W. (1992). BASC: Behavior assessment system for children. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.

Reynolds, C. R. & Kamphaus, R. W. (Eds.). (2003). Handbook of psychological and educational assessment of children: Personality, behaviors, and context (2nd ed.). New York, NY: The Guilford Press.

Reynolds, C. R., & Kamphaus, R. W. (2004). BASC-2: Behavior assessment system for children, second edition manual. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.

Sandoval, J. & Echandia, A. (1994). Review of the behavior assessment system for children, Journal of School Psychology, 32, 419-425.