Social and antisocial behavior of children with learning and behavioral disorders: Construct validity of the Home and Community Social Behavior Scales

Construct validity of the Home and Community Social Behavior Scales, a home version of the School Social Behavior Scales, was examined by investigatin g its sensitivity to theoretically based group differences. This instrument was designed to provide information regarding parents' (and other home-bas ed raters') perceptions of child and adolescent social behavior in home and community settings. Social behavior of 180 children, ages 6 to 12, was rat ed by a parent. Sixty of these children had emotional-behavioral disorders, 60 had learning disabilities, and 60 were general education students Witho ut any disabilities. Significant differences were found in the ratings of t he three groups. Children with emotional-behavioral disorders were rated lo west on social competence and highest on antisocial behavior; general educa tion students were rated highest on social competence and lowest on antisoc ial behavior; and children with learning disabilities were rated in between these two groups in both areas. The results of this investigation are disc ussed in terms of future research and clinical applications for social beha vior assessment of children and youth.