Psychometric Evaluation of the Behavior Problems Inventory-01 and the Nisonger Child Behavior Rating Form with Children and Adolescents

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the psychometric properties of 2 assessment instruments, the Behavior Problems Inventory-01 (BPI-01; Rojahn, Matson, Lott, Esbensen, & Smalls, 2001) and the Nisonger Child Behavior Rating Form (NCBRF; Aman, Tassé, Rojahn, & Hammer, 1996). The sample consisted of 237 ethnically diverse children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities who ranged in age from 4 to 22 years. Reliability parameters included internal consistency, interteacher agreement, teacher-parent agreement, and test-retest reliability. Factorial validity was assessed first by bivariate Spearman rank (ρ) correlations and then by examining the factor structure fit via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Convergent and discriminant validity was assessed by multiple regression analyses across the 2 instruments. Reliability coefficients (internal consistency, interteacher agreement, and test-retest reliability) of the BPI-01 and of the NCBRF subscales ranged from fair to excellent and from poor to excellent, respectively. The CFA suggested a poor fit between the present and the original BPI-01 and NCBRF factor structures, although item-total correlations were reasonable. Convergent and discriminant validity between the BPI-01 and the NCBRF, however, was strong. Limitations of the study are discussed and recommendations for future studies are presented.