Towards Designing an Adaptive Behavior Assessment Tool in Early Childhood Special Education

  • Lara Maguad Maguad Psychological Clinic & Stalwart Psychological Services, Philippines
  • Aida Damian University of Perpetual Help System-DALTA Las Piñas City-Graduate Studies, Philippines

Abstract

The study is a test development research that focuses on measuring the level of adaptability of children aged two to five years old. Adaptive Behavior Assessment Tool (ABAT) is specifically designed for Filipino learners in early childhood special education programs who exhibit delays or have been diagnosed with developmental conditions. Likewise, it can be used as a pre-screening tool for children’s adaptability in school. The study followed the design, validation, and criterion referencing process, which later evolved into five dominant stages. Phase I focused on item generation and content domain. This stage was able to produce 657 items. Phase II established the face and content validities of the instrument through the consolidated efforts of the experts. This stage was able to maintain 655 items. Phase III emphasized the initial construct validation via internal structure and consistency. The data was taken from 23 participants, which resulted in 317 accepted items. Phase IV involved final construct validation through the data from 45 participants. This phase was able to produce concurrent validity as well as measures of reliabilities like Cronbach Alpha and Split Half. From this, 262 items were finalized. Phase V developed the norm of the instrument through conversion of raw scores to mean scores and to stanine. In addition, this process enabled the researcher to come up with an ABAT examiner manual.


Keywords: test development, adaptability, early childhood, special education

Published
2022-02-09
How to Cite
MAGUAD, Lara; DAMIAN, Aida. Towards Designing an Adaptive Behavior Assessment Tool in Early Childhood Special Education. 8ISC Proceedings: Arts and Education, [S.l.], p. 26-34, feb. 2022. Available at: <https://ejournal.unklab.ac.id/index.php/8iscared/article/view/619>. Date accessed: 08 feb. 2025.