Assessment of Children with Special Needs

Identify and pose description of

the behavior to be observed.

Select a measurement
system.

Set up the data-

collection system.
Identify and
pose
description
of the
behavior to
be observed.
 Types of
Behavior
Discreet Behaviors
Behaviors that have clearly
defined beginnings and endings;
can be measured by counting the
frequency or timing the duration.

Not Discreet Behaviors

Identify and pose Measurable behaviors during any

description of the given time period because an

observer can determine whether
behavior to be observed. a student is displaying a behavior
Select a
measure-
ment
system.
 Frequency
Refers to the number of
times a certain behavior
occurs.

Duration
Is the measure of the length
of the behavior, that is, how
Select a measurement long it lasts in terms of
seconds, minutes, or hours.
system.
Select a measurement system.
 Select a measurement system.

Event Recording Duration Recording Latency Recording

Is the frequency of a
Happens when the Occurs when the
behavior noted in this
observer records the time observer determines the
system. The observer
a behavior begins and amount of time it takes a
simply makes a notation
the time it ends to student to begin doing
each time that behavior
determine its length. something.
of interest occurs.

Whole-interval
recording
The student is observed
for the entire interval and
the observer notes if the
target behavior occurs
continuously throughout
the interval.
Select a measurement system.
Partial-interval Momentary time
recording recording
The student is observed
The student is observed
for the entire interval, but
only at the end of each
the observer only notes if
interval; at that time, the
the behavior occurred at
observer checks to see if
least once during the
the behavior is occurring.
interval.
Set up the
data-
collection
system.
 Questions:
When and where will the
observation take place?

How many observation periods

will there be, and how
frequently will these occur?

Who will act as the observer?

Set up the data-

collection system. How will observable data be
recorded?
Normative Groups
Allow the teacher to compare
one person’s performance to
the performance of others.
This will set the standards for
measuring the capability of
the child with disability.
 Validity
The extent to which a test
measures what its authors
and users claim it measures
(Salvia et at., 2010)
 Types of
Content Predictive
validity validity

A logical process
Concurrent
Similar to Face
where connections
validity
concurrent, but it is validity
between the test the relationship of
items and the job- test scores to an Is determined by a
A statistical method
related task are examinee’s future review of the items
using correlation,
established. performance is and not through the
rather than a logical
estimated use of statistical
method.
analysis.
 The extent to which it is
possible to generalize from
an observation of a
specific behavior observed
at a specific person to
observations conducted
on similar behaviors, at
different times, or by
different observers.
 Types of

Item Stability Inter-observer

reliability reliability agreement
Similar performance Similar performance Similar performance
on similar items in the future with a different
person
Is the design of products
and environments to be
used by all people, to
the greatest extent
possible, without the
need for adaptation or
specialized design.
Equitable use.
The design is useful
and marketable to
people with
disabilities.
Flexibility in use
The design can
accommodate a wide
range of individual
preferences.
Simple and
Intuitive use
The use of the
design is easy to
understand.
Perceptible
Information
The design
communicates
necessary information
effectively to the user.
Tolerance for Error
The design minimizes
hazards and the adverse
consequences of
accidental or unintended
actions.
Low Physical Effort
The design can be used
efficiently and comfortably
with a minimum level of
fatigue.
Size and Space for
Approach and Use
Appropriate size and space is
provided for approach, reach
manipulation and use.
Assessment of Children with Special Needs