The Stereotyped Behavior Scale (SBS) is an empirically developed behavior r
ating scale for adolescents and adults with mental retardation (Rojahn, Tas
se & Sturmey, 1997). Since the original publication, one item was deleted a
nd two items were merged, leaving 24 items. In an additional change, severi
ty scales were added to the frequency scales. In this paper, psychometric p
roperties and (relative) norms for the new SBS are presented. In the psycho
metric study, 45 adults with mental retardation from a residential facility
participated. Of these, 15 were selected for high-rates or very severe for
ms of stereotyped behaviors, 15 for mild to moderate rates or less severe s
tereotypies, and 15 for the low rates or absence of stereotyped behaviors.
Direct care staff familiar with the participants completed the SBS and the
"Stereotypy" subscale of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Residential (ABC-R
) (Aman, Singh, Stewart & Field, 1985). For 15 participants, two raters ind
ependently completed the SBS. In addition, 45-min direct behavior observati
ons were conducted on 16 participants. After approximately four weeks: the
instruments were completed a second time by the same raters. As for reliabi
lity, the SBS frequency and severity scale total scores yielded test-retest
intraclass coefficients (ICC) of 0.93 and 0.71, ICC interrater agreement o
f 0.76 and 0.75, and each had an internal consistency alpha of 0.91. For cr
iterion validity, the SBS frequency and severity scores correlated with the
ABC-R "Stereotypy" score at 0.80 and 0.84 (Pearson r), with systematic beh
avior observations at 0.50 and 0.65 (Pearson r), and with the a priori clas
sification at 0.50 and 0.65 (Spearman rho). From a previous data set of 550
individuals with stereotypic behavior, normative data (percentile ranks an
d T-scores) were derived. The data were presented in two tables, one showin
g a breakdown of gender by age groups, and the second one of age groups by
level of functioning. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.