Scientific practitioner: Adaptive behavior: Research to practice

https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-4405(89)90045-9Get rights and content

Abstract

Adaptive behavior measures have become an integral part of the assessment of handicapped children, and much research has implications for the appropriate use of these measures. This article explores relevant research and applies the research to the interpretation of assessment results for a 12-year-old boy. Issues in adaptive behavior assessment and guidelines for practitioners are presented in order to provide an empirical rationale for test interpretation.

References (49)

  • D.E. Childs

    A study of the adaptive behavior of retarded children and the resultant effects of this use in the diagnosis of mental retardation

    Education and Training of the Mentally Retarded

    (1982)
  • R. Connor et al.

    Testing the independence of intelligence and adaptive behavior constructs

    (1988, April)
  • W.A. Coulter

    Adaptive behavior and professional disfavor: Controversies and trends for school psychologists

    School Psychology Review

    (1980)
  • A.T. Fisher

    Adaptive behavior in nonbiased assessment: Effects on special education

    (1978, August)
  • W. Frankenberger

    A survey of state guidelines for identification of mental retardation

    Mental Retardation

    (1984)
  • P.L. Harrison

    Mercer's adaptive behavior inventory, the McCarthy Scales, and dental development as predictors of first-grade achievement

    Journal of Educational Psychology

    (1981)
  • P.L. Harrison

    The application of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales in educational settings

    Techniques: A Journal for Remedial Education and Counseling

    (1984)
  • P.L. Harrison

    Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Classroom edition manual

    (1985)
  • P.L. Harrison

    Research with adaptive behavior scales

    Journal of Special Education

    (1987)
  • Harrison, P. L. (in press). Adaptive behavior assessment. In B. A. Bracken (Ed.), The psychoeducational assessment of...
  • P.L. Harrison et al.

    Comparison between the K-ABC and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales

    (1984, April)
  • C.P. Heath

    Trends in adaptive behavior research over the past decade

    (1986, April)
  • C.P. Heath et al.

    Comparison of three measures of adaptive behavior

    American Journal of Mental Deficiency

    (1986)
  • Cited by (10)

    • Positive functioning: Does it add validity to maladaptive functioning items?

      2002, Evaluation and Program Planning
      Citation Excerpt :

      Maladaptive functioning is defined as impairment; an individual's actions that show inability to deal with the stresses and events of everyday life according to what is acceptable to society (Summerfelt & Bickman, 1994). Adaptive functioning is defined as behavior effective in meeting the typical personal and social demands and expectations as defined within one's environment (Harrison, 1989; Summerfelt & Bickman, 1994). Positive functioning is defined as the exceeding of normative social role expectations such that these behaviors are viewed not just as the absence of impairment but also as the presence of strengths (Kazdin, 1993; Reilly, 1996).

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text