Using Behavior Rating Scales forADHD Across Ethnic Groups

Abstract

In this study we examined the normative and construct equivalence of the teacher IOWA Conners Rating Scale (IOWA) in a sample of 3,998 elementary school children (2,124 African American and 1,874 European American) ages 5 to 1 1 years in an urban school district. Risk odds ratios (% > 2 SD) were calculated by gender and ethnicity. An exploratory Principal Axis factor analysis was performed to determine the appropriateness of the 2-factor model. Structural equation modeling was used to estimate the degree of fit for the 2-factor model. Both African American boys and girls received significantly higher scores than their European American counterpoints.There was a 2.48 to 3.5 1 greater likelihood forAfrican American boys and a 3.60 to 5.27 greater likelihood of African American girls to be rated > 2 SD above the mean for inattention/overactivity, aggression, or IOWA Conners Rating Scale scores. A rater ethnicity by student ethnicity (European American vs. African American) interaction was also found. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the same 2-factor model was appropriate

Development of a problem-focused behavioral screener linked to evidence-based intervention.

“…It is possible that teacher ratings in the study reflected behavioral expectations for nonminority students in suburban schools, which resulted in biased assessment of minor ity students' behavior. It appears that our results are consistent with those of prior stud ies that indicated elevated ratings for African American students' problem behavior (Ep stein et al, 1998;Reid et al, 2001); however, additional studies are needed to determine whether such differences are because of in formant bias or whether such differences also would be found using more objective assess ment methods (see Hosterman, DuPaul, & Jitendra, 2008). Finally, future research should investigate the feasibility of the ITRF for large-scale universal screening by com paring the time and resources necessary to conduct universal screening across an entire school or district using the ITRF with those necessary to conduct screening using extant measures.…”

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in African American children: What can be concluded from the past ten years?

“…Reid et al (2001) studied the construct and normative equivalence of the venerable teacher IOWA Conners’ Rating Scale (IOWA; Pelham, Milich, Murphy, & Murphy, 1989). The sample of 3998 children (2124 African American and 1874 Caucasian American) ages 5–11 years was drawn from elementary schools in an urban school district that were defined “high-risk schools” due to increased percentages of school absences, low SES, and students below grade-level.…”

Measurement and data analysis in research addressing health disparities in substance abuse

“…Another study demonstrates how ethnicity influences clinical diagnosis. Similarly, Reid et al (2001) examined teacher ratings of African American and non-Hispanic Caucasian schoolchildren on ADHD behaviors, another set of behaviors commonly studied in substance abuse treatment or prevention studies. Both African American and non-Hispanic Caucasian teachers rated the children on the IOWA Connors.…”