Early Literacy Research Library (ELRL) - Metric

Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC)

BASC


Access: FREE/Open Access

evaluation focus

Children's Behavior and Emotional Status

applicable ages

24-263 months; 2-21 years

available language(s)

English and Spanish

availability

Must be purchased


summary

The Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC) is an instrument that can be used to measure the intrapersonal competencies of children or adolescents for the purpose of monitoring their behavior and/or emotional status.

 

5 Rating Forms Included in the BASC:

    • Teacher Rating Scale (TRS)
        • Completed by: teacher or qualified professional
        • Measures: adaptive and problem behaviors in the preschool or school setting
        • Forms: preschool (ages 2 to 5), child (ages 6 to 11), and adolescent (ages 12 to 21)
        • Administration Time: 10-20 minutes
    • Parent Rating Scale (PRS)
        • Completed by: parent or caregiver
        • Measures: adaptive and problem behaviors in the community and home setting
        • Forms: preschool (ages 2 to 5), child (ages 6 to 11), and adolescent (ages 12 to 21)
        • Administration Time: 10-20 minutes
    • Self-Report of Personality (SRP)
        • Completed by: self
        • Measures: child’s or adult’s thoughts and feelings
        • Forms: child (ages 6 to 7), child (ages 8 to 11), adolescent (ages 12 to 21), college (ages 18 to 25)
        • Administration Time: 30 minutes
    • Student Observation System (SOS)
        • Completed by: qualified professional
        • Records: direct observations of a child’s behavior in a classroom setting
        • Assesses: adaptive and maladaptive behaviors, from positive peer interaction to repetitive motor movements
        • Administration Time: momentary time sampling during three-second intervals spaced 30 seconds apart over a 15-minute period
    • Structured Developmental History (SDH): comprehensive history and background survey that supplies a thorough review of social, psychological, developmental, educational, and medical information on the child

2 Overall Score Reports:

    • Overall Behavioral Symptoms Index (TRS and PRS)
    • Emotional Symptoms Index (SRP)

4 Sub-Score Reports:

    • Externalizing problems
    • Internalizing problems
    • Adaptive skills
    • School problems (TRS and SRP)

Administration: paper/pencil or digital questionnaire

Administration Time: varies per scale

 

Reliability (Tan 2007)

    • Internal Consistency:
        • Overall BSI and Composite Scores: coefficients in the upper 0.80s
        • Individual Scales: coefficients in the lower 0.80s
    • Test-Retest
        • Same teacher rated same students 2x with 8-65 days between ratings
        • Composite scores ranged from middle 0.80s to low 0.90s
    • Interrater
        • Two different teachers rated he same child with 0-62 days between ratings
        • Composite scores ranged from 0.19 to 0.82 (Tan 2007)

 

Validity

    • Factor Analysis: items had moderate to high loadings on their factors
    • Relations with Other Variables: moderate to high correlations between most BSI scales and other measures of same/similar constructs (below), some had low to moderate correlations.
        • Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment
        • Caregiver-Teacher Report Forms for ages 1.5 to 5
        • The Teacher’s Report Form for ages 6 to 18
        • The Conners’ Teacher Rating Scale – Revised

Available for Purchase: https://www.pearsonassessments.com/store/usassessments/en/Store/Professional-Assessments/Behavior/Comprehensive/Behavior-Assessment-System-for-Children-%7C-Third-Edition-/p/100001402.html

Source: Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC) | RAND
Source: https://www.pearsonassessments.com/store/usassessments/en/Store/Professional-Assessments/Behavior/Comprehensive/Behavior-Assessment-System-for-Children-%7C-Third-Edition-/p/100001402.html#


supporting literature

Sandoval, J., Enchandia, A. (1994) Behavior Assessment System for Children. Journal of School Psychology, 32(4), 419-425.
PDF: BASC – 1 – Sandoval 1994
Link: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1995-15928-001

Kamphaus, R. (2015) Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition (BASC-2). In: Cautin, R. L., Lilienfeld, S. O. The Encyclopedia of Clinical Psychology, First Edition, Wiley & Sons, Inc.
PDF: BASC – 2 – Kamphaus 2015
Link: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Behavior-Assessment-System-for-Children%2C-Second-Kamphaus/1c8db9d89293f6f1a8950989c85b9d41bca05f09

Kiperman, S., Black, M. S., McGill, T. M., Harrell-Williams, L. M., Kamphaus, R. (2014) Predicting Behavior Assessment System for Children–Second Edition Self-Report of Personality Child Form Results Using the Behavioral and Emotional Screening System Student Form: A Replication Study With an Urban, Predominantly Latino/a Sample. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 32(7), 587-681.
PDF: BASC – 3 – Kiperman 2014
Link: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0734282914529200?journalCode=jpaa

Tan, C.S. (2007) Test review: Reynolds, C. R., & Kamphaus, R. W. Behavior Assessment System for Children. Assessment for Effective Intervention, 32(2), 121–124.