The adaptive behavior scale-residential and community (part I): towards the development of a short form

A potential 24-itern short form (SABS) of the 73-item Adaptive Behavior Sca le-Residential and Community (Part I) (ABS-RC2; Nihira et al., 1993a, b) wa s developed, based on data from two diverse UK samples of adults with intel lectual disabilities living in residential services (n = 560 and 254). SABS factor and total scores showed good internal reliability in both sampl es (alpha 0.89-0.98), and were highly correlated with their full ABS-RC2 Pa rt I equivalents (r = 0.97-0.99). Regression equations were calculated for SABS factor and total scores against their full ABS-RC2 Part I equivalents. Levels of agreement between predicted quartile scores (derived from the re gression equations) and actual full ABS-RC2 Part I quartile scores were hig h (kappa 0.75-0.89; percentage agreement 82%-92%). It is concluded that the SABS is a potentially useful research tool, althou gh further work is clearly needed to establish the reliability and cross-cu ltural validity of the instrument. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All right s reserved.