Preliminary Development and Content Validation of a Rating Scale for Assessing Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is currently one of the most frequent problems for which children are referred to mental health clinics in this country, affecting approximately 3-5% of the childhood population. Although adequate assessment and identification of this disorder is imperative, most of the currently existing measures to assess for ADHD in children are inadequate . The present research study involved the development and content validation of a new behavior rating scale prototype for assessing ADHD in the school-age (K-12) population. This research was conducted in five distinct steps: (a) item development; (b) development of the prototype; (c) content validation by an expert panel; (d) evaluation of the prototype; and ( e) modification of the prototype. Initial behavioral descriptors were obtained from a comprehensive and systematic review of the literature related to ADHD in school-age children. Potential items were then reviewed by a panel of experts in the area of ADHD in children. A panel of teachers and a panel of parents rated the usability of the prototype and the overall quality of the items. Two different types of rating formats were developed to help determine, through the content validation and the usability ratings of the prototype, which rating format would be most appropriate and useful for the eventual users of the rating scale. A final version of the prototype was constructed, including the revised items, a rating scale format, instructions to the informant, questions regarding the demographic characteristics of the child being assessed, and a mixed order presentation of the items