Exploration of psychometric properties of the developmental behavior checklist.

The team ran a factor analysis on the Developmental Behaviour Checklist (DBC). They wanted to see if the original five sub-scales held up in a new large sample of kids with intellectual disability.

Caregivers of the children completed the 96-item checklist. All kids had confirmed ID and lived in Victoria, Australia.

The five factors from the first edition stayed intact: Disruptive, Self-Absorbed, Communication Disturbance, Anxiety, and Social Relating problems.

Internal consistency was high (alpha > 0.85 for every sub-scale). The checklist scores were stable across gender and age groups.

Oliver et al. (2002) ran almost the same analysis one year later and got the same five factors. Their sample was smaller but the numbers matched, so the structure is reliable.

Smith et al. (1994) built a different tool, the Adolescent Behavior Checklist, for teens with mild ID. Both studies show caregiver checklists can screen for psychopathology, but the DBC covers a wider age and severity range.

Davis et al. (1994) warned that mental-age corrections can muddy hyperactivity ratings. The DBC avoids this by using raw scores plus chronological-age norms, keeping interpretation simple.

You can trust the DBC sub-scales to flag problem areas without re-norming. Use the five scores to pick targets for FBA, show insurance why behavior reduction is needed, and track change after intervention. No extra math required—just compare T-scores to the manual cut-offs.