A reliability study of measures assessing the impact of deinstitutionalization

This study examined the reliability of several scales and indices used to m easure outcome variables (independence, integration, productivity, and sati sfaction) among people with developmental disabilities. A stratified random sample of 112 people was interviewed twice in a two-week period and includ ed equal numbers of verbal and nonverbal consumers, of parent versus other caregivers, and consumers with diagnosed level of retardation being dichoto mized into high and low. In addition, half of the interviews were test-rete st and half were interrater. After stratifying on these four variables, the sample was chosen randomly within subgroups from the total database of 3,7 00 individuals who receive services through the Developmental Disabilities Services Division of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. Correlation and proportion agreement analyses were performed on the pre- and post-test s and comparisons made on each scale for each stratification to examine var iations in reliability. Acceptable correlations and matched agreements of a t least 0.70 for all measures were found, with the Adaptive Development Sca le having particularly strong correlations. In addition, responses from peo ple with developmental disabilities on items of the Consumer Satisfaction s cale were acceptably reliable. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.