Test of validity of a photographic adaptive communication device to measure consumer satisfaction

Researchers and practitioners have used adaptive communication devices (ACD ) in interviewing individuals with communication impairments as well as per sons with concurrent developmental disabilities (Cohen & Jones, 1990; Miren da & Locke, 1989; Musselwhite & Ruscello, 1984; Sigelman & Budd, 1986). The current study assessed the criterion validity of the photographic ACD used in Oklahoma to interview those receiving services from the Developmental D isabilities Services Division. This ACD consists of color photographic repr esentations for each of the 24 questions created for interviewing the consu mers. A back-translation methodology was used, asking participants to view the photographs and respond with tile question that each picture was design ed to represent. The average percentage of participants correctly identifyi ng the question across 24 pictures was 69.9%. Several photographs were freq uently incorrectly identified, and two photographs presented problems to al l respondents. The photographs were then revised in accordance with informa tion obtained from Me research, and a post-test was performed with five ver bal individuals with developmental disabilities. The post-test revealed tha t all but two of the problematic questions became apparent after the revisi on.