Initial Evidence for the Reliability and Validity of the Student Risk Screening Scale for Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors at the Middle School Level

Abstract

We reported findings of an exploratory validation study of a revised universal screening instrument: the Student Risk Screening Scale–Internalizing and Externalizing (SRSS-IE) for use with middle school students. Tested initially for use with elementary-age students, the SRSS-IE was adapted to include seven additional items reflecting characteristics of internalizing behaviors. The initial seven items developed by Drummond (1994) were retained, yielding a modified instrument containing 14 items (SRSS-IE14) rated by teachers on the original 4-point, Likert-type scale. First, we examined reliability of SRSS-IE14 scores by analyzing item-level data, internal consistency estimates, and factor structure with a sample of 937 middle school students. Results of a data analytic plan grounded in Classical Test Theory supported retention of five of the new seven items, producing the SRSS-IE12. Second, we established convergent validity of the SRSS-IE12 with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997), a validated screening tool. We offered recommendations for addressing the limitations of this study in future research.

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“…The externalizing construct refers to the outward expression of harmful behaviours (e.g., aggression, hyperactivity, defiance) that affect the external environment. Due to the observable dysregulated emotional states and related conflict that ensues, externalizing symptoms are often referred to as behaviour problems by professionals working with children and youth (Lane, Oakes, Carter, Lambert, & Jenkins, 2013;Liu, 2004;Mikolajewski, Allan, Hart, Lonigan, & Taylor, 2013). In the American Psychiatric Association's (2013) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the clusters of externalizing symptoms are commonly categorized as oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD), and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).…”

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“…Psychometric studies of the SRSS-IE support retention of five of the seven proposed internalizing items, leading to the SRSS-I5 (Lane, Oakes, Menzies, et al, 2013). A recent psychometric study of the SRSS-IE with 937 middle school students from three schools (two city and one rural) further supported the retention of the same five items for the SRSS-I5 (Lane, Oakes, Carter, Lambert, & Jenkins, 2013). Convergent validity analyses suggested SRSS-IE scores have convergent validity with SDQ scores at the elementary and middle school levels.…”

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“…Therefore we need more practical and time-saving instruments that are easy to apply and score to detect and identify students with EBD in early years. The Student Risk Screening Scale (Drummond, 1994) is a costeffective tool in terms of teacher time and material, and it includes seven indicator behaviors accepted as core characteristics of children with EBD (as cited in Lane et al, 2013). The teacher can complete assessing all students in per class in 10-15 minutes by rating each indicator between 0-3 on one page form.…”