THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ALIEN COGNITIVE LEVEL TEST AND THE LIFE SKILLS PROFILE

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to further evaluate the vali dity of the Alien Cognitive Level Test (ACL-90) as a measure of the co nstruct of ''adaptive functioning'' and to determine its effectiveness in discriminating between persons who live in the community and perso ns who are institutionalized. Method. Forty-one persons with schizophr enia living in the community and 17 persons with schizophrenia living in a long-term psychiatric hospital were assessed with the ACL-90 and the Life Skills Profile (LSP). Scores an the two measures were compare d as was the effectiveness of the two measures in discriminating betwe en the participant groups. Results. The ACL-90 scares correlated moder ately with the LSP total r (56) = .54, p < .01, and Self-Care Sub-scal e, r (56) = .53, p < .01. Only the Nonturbulence sub-scale of the LSP discriminated between the community and institutionalized participant groups. The behavior of the participants living in the community was l ess turbulent than that of the participants who were institutionalized F(1,54)= 15.24, p < .001. Conclusion. Although the moderate correlati ons between the ACL-90 and the LSP measures support the ACL as a measu re of adaptive functioning and reflect its theoretical perspective, ad ditional information is needed to predict the community functioning an d support needs of persons with schizophrenia.