Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC)

General Information on the Measure
Purpose of the measure

The Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC) is used to monitor changes in children’s behavior or emotional status.

Main constructs measured

Intrapersonal competencies

Applicable grade levels

Ages 2-21

Publication year for the most recent version 2015
Year originally developed 1992
Related measures
Measure Administration
Respondent

There are five separate rating forms that comprise the BASC. These include a teacher rating scale (TRS), a parent rating scale (PRS) a self-report of personality (SRP), student observation system (SOS) and a structured developmental history (SDH).

Method of administration Paper/Pencil
Number of items 105-165
Item format

Four-point frequency scales

Administration time 30 minutes
Available languages English, Spanish
Fee for use Fee charged by developer
Credentials required for administration Qualification Level B
Scoring
Overall score reporting

Overall Behavioral Symptoms Index (TRS and PRS)

Emotional Symptoms Index (SRP)

Subscore reporting Several composite subscores are reported, as well as individual scores. These include
  • Externalizing problems
  • Internalizing problems
  • Adaptive skills
  • School problems (TRS and SRP)
Scoring procedures Scoring manual and software is provided by the assessment developers.
Interpretive information Norm-referenced scores (T scores and percentile ranks) are available in the score reports, as are interpretations of strengths and weaknesses and target behaviors for intervention
Evidence of Technical Quality
Populations for which technical quality evidence has been collected

No information is available in the references reviewed.

Reliability evidence

Internal consistency reliability coefficients for the overall BSI and composite scores were in the upper 0.80s.

The internal consistency reliability for individual scales of were in the lower 0.80s.

Test-retest reliability was estimated by having the same teacher rate the same students twice (with a lag of 8-65 days).

The test-retest reliability of the composite scores ranged from the middle 0.80s to the low 0.90s.

Inter-rater reliability was estimated by having each child rated by two different teachers (with a lag of 0-62 days between ratings).

The inter-rater reliability of the composite scores ranged from .18 to .82 (Tan, 2007).

Validity evidence
Evidence based on content
No information available in the references reviewed.
Evidence based on response processes
No information available in the references reviewed.
Evidence based on internal structure
Factor analysis revealed that the items had moderate to high loadings on their factors (Tan, 2007).
Evidence based on relations with other variables
Evidence about the validity of BASC came from studies that examined the relationships between BASC scores and scores on other measures of behavioral problems, including the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA, Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001), the Caregiver-Teacher Report Forms for ages 1.5 to 5 (ASEBA; Achenbach & Rescorla, 2000), the Teacher's Report Form for ages 6 to 18 (ASEBA; Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001), and the Conners' Teacher Rating Scale – Revised (CTRS-R; Conners, 1997). Most of the correlations between two scales that measure the same or similar construct were moderate to high, with some scales having low to moderate correlations with similar scales (Tan, 2007).
Locating the Measure
Obtaining a copy of the measure pearsonclinical.com
References

Tan, C. S. Test review: Reynolds, C. R., & Kamphaus, R. W. , "Behavior assessment system for children," Assessment for Effective Intervention, Vol. 32, No. 2, American Guidance Service, 2007, pp. 121–124.

Reynolds, C. R., & Kamphaus, R. W. , "Behavior assessment system for children," American Guidance Service, 2004.

Achenbach, T. M., & Rescorla, L. A. Manual for the ASEBA pre- school forms and profiles, Research Center for Children, Youth, and Families, 2000.

Achenbach, T. M., & Rescorla, L. A. , Manual for the ASEBA school- age forms and profiles, Research Center for Children, Youth, and Families, 2001.

Conners, C. K. , Conners' rating scales – Revised, Multi-Health Systems, 1997.

Notes

Measure summary updated October 3, 2018.