QABF - Polish adaptation and validation of the tool for assessing the functions of challenging behaviors.
Polish QABF is a valid five-factor screener for functions of challenging behavior in children with autism.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Lew-Koralewicz et al. (2021) translated the Questions About Behavioral Function into Polish.
They ran a confirmatory factor analysis with caregivers of children with autism.
The team checked if the five-function structure held up in the new language.
What they found
The Polish QABF kept the same five factors: attention, escape, tangible, sensory, and pain.
Reliability and validity numbers were good, so the checklist works in Polish.
How this fits with other research
Logan et al. (2000) built the original English QABF. Aneta’s study extends that work into Polish.
Nicholson et al. (2006) warned that inter-rater reliability can be modest. The Polish data did not retest this flaw, so keep pairing the QABF with direct observation.
Egelhoff et al. (2013) and Camodeca et al. (2020) also used confirmatory factor analysis to validate ASD checklists. Their success mirrors the Polish QABF approach, showing CFA is a solid path for language adaptations.
Why it matters
If you serve Polish-speaking families, you now have a validated, free tool to find the ‘why’ behind problem behavior. Use it during intake, then follow with brief direct observation to guard against rater bias.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorders are a diagnostic unit predisposing the occurrence of challenging behaviors. Depending on their frequency and severity, behavioral problems may significantly limit the developmental possibilities of people with ASD, and also significantly affect family life and the therapeutic process. Aggressive, self-injury, destructive or stereotypic behaviors require intervention based on individualized support, the basis of which should be a functional assessment. AIMS: The aim of the study was to develop and adapt the Polish version of the Question About Behavioral Function (QABF) questionnaire by Matson and Vollmer used to assess the functions of challenging behaviors. METHOD: Data was obtained from 107 people with ASD. Material was analyzed relating to 168 problem behaviors manifested by these people. To determine the psychometric properties of the tool, reliability and validity analyses were carried out with confirmatory factor analysis using the maximum likelihood method. The Fornell and Larcker method (1981) was used to estimate the convergent and differential validity. RESULT: The analysis confirmed the structure of 5-factor QABF. Composite reliability (CR) achieved values at a level of 0.855 and higher. An AVE value of above 0.5 for all factors, while at the same time lower than the CR value, confirmed the convergent validity of the tool. The differential value was confirmed on the basis of the AVE and MSV values. The results obtained confirm that the analyzed tool is accurate and reliable. CONCLUSION: QABF, in the Polish language version, is a reliable tool for assessing the behavioral functions of people with ASD. The limitations of the research are also discussed.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2021 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2021.104032