The psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the social responsiveness scale in a neuropediatric sample

Abstract

BackgroundThe current study is an examination of the psychometric properties of the Norwegian Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), a measure of deficits in social behavior, in a neuropediatric outpatient sample of children and adolescents with neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders. MethodThe internal consistency of the SRS, the convergent validity of the SRS with the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale-II (VABS-II), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) were examined, in addition to four different factor models of the SRS (i.e., a one-factor, the original five-factor, a second-order five-factor model, and a 16-item one-factor model) using confirmatory factor analyses. ResultsThere was satisfactory internal consistency on all subscales, except for the Social Awareness subscale. The SRS showed a somewhat meaningful overlap with parts of the related scales on the VABS-II, the SDQ, and the ABC. Model fit indices were mixed for evaluating the four different factor models. Overall, however, the model fit was rather poor. ConclusionsThe original SRS subscales showed adequate internal consistency and satisfactory convergent validity on some of the subscales. The construct validity in terms of factor structure was not acceptable. Future research should examine the psychometric properties of an improved version of the SRS, especially in terms of improving the scale’s construct validity.