title: Investigating the validity of the Draw-A-Person: Screening Procedure for Emotional Disturbance: a measurement validation study with high-risk youth.
abstract: This validity study examined the extent to which the Draw-A-Person: Screening Procedure for Emotional Disturbance (DAP:SPED; J. A. Naglieri, T. J. McNeish, & A. N. Bardos, 1991) was a significant predictor of behavioral functioning within a clinical sample of 68 latency-age children (6-12 years old) receiving counseling services at outpatient and residential treatment facilities. Study results showed that the total DAP:SPED (man, woman, and self scores summed) was a significant predictor in explaining variation in internalizing behavioral disturbance. Specifically, the DAP:SPED remained a moderate strength predictor of internalizing behavioral disturbance after controlling for the Child and Adolescent Adjustment Profile parent-report behavioral measure. Findings lend preliminary support to the DAP:SPED's validity in providing assessment information about child behavioral functioning. Continued validation investigation along these lines is recommended.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University, 3330 Washington Boulevard, Suite 400, Arlington, Virginia 22201, USA. hmatto@mail1.vcu.edu
authors.forename: Holly C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Matto
mesh_terms: D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D018594:Human Body; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011386:Projective Techniques; D012044:Regression Analysis