Skip to main content

Assessment of Social Skills and Intellectual Disability

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Practitioner's Guide to Empirically Based Measures of Social Skills

Part of the book series: ABCT Clinical Assessment Series ((ABCT))

Abstract

Social skills foster healthy interpersonal relationships, promote independence, and are crucial to coping with stressful situations. Deficits in social skills are a critical component of intellectual disability (ID). They are related to many important personal and social outcomes in this population. In many ways, social skills are at the heart of controversies on how to define ID. As such, this chapter begins with an overview of the disability. Next, the relationship between ID and social skills is discussed in light of similar constructs, psychopathology, and genetic disorders. We then briefly elaborate on a few assessment considerations and modalities. Finally, we present an overview of selected adaptive behavior measures and rating scales. Instruments were chosen based on their widespread use, recent development, or unique features.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • American Association on Mental Retardation. (1992). Mental retardation: Definition, classification, and systems of support (9th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Association on Mental Retardation. (2002). Mental retardation: Definition, classification, and systems of support (10th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed. text revision). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bellack, A. S., & Hersen, M. (1998). Behavioral assessment: A practical handbook (4th ed.). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benson, B. A., Reiss, S., Smith, D. C., & Laman, D. S. (1985). Psychosocial correlates of depression in mentally retarded adults: II. Poor social skills. American Journal on Mental Deficiency, 89, 657–659.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bielecki, J., & Swender, S. L. (2004). The assessment of social functioning in individuals with mental retardation: A Review. Behavior Modification, 28, 694–708.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Borthwick-Duffy, S. A. (1994). Epidemiology and prevalence of psychopathology in people with mental retardation. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62, 17–27.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bruininks, R. H., Woodcock, R. W., Weatherman, R. F., & Hill, B. K. (1984). Scales of independent behavior: Manual. Itasca, Il: Riverside Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carr, E. G., & Durand, M. V. (1985). Reducing behavior problems through functional communication training. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 18, 111–126.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dekker, M. C., Koot, H. M., van der Ende, J., & Verhulst, F. C. (2002). Emotional and behavioral problems in children and adolescents with and without intellectual disability. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 43, 1087–1098.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Doll, E. A. (1941). The essentials of an inclusive concept of mental deficiency. American Journal on Mental Deficiency, 46, 214–219.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, D., Matson, J. L., Bamburg, J. W., Cherry, K. E., & Buckley, T. (1999). The relationship of self-injurious behavior and aggression to social skills in persons with severe and profound learning disability. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 20, 441–448.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dykens, E. M., Hodapp, R. M., & Evans, D. W. (1994). Profiles and development of adaptive behavior in children with Down syndrome. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 98, 580–587.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dykens, E. M., Hodapp, R. M., & Finucane, B. M. (2000). Genetics and mental retardation syndromes. Baltimore, MA: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finlay, W. M. L., & Lyons, E. (2001). Methodological issues in interviewing and using self-report questionnaires with people with mental retardation. Psychological Assessment, 13, 319–335.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greenspan, S., & Love, P. F. (1999). Social intelligence and developmental disorder: mental retardation, learning disabilities, and autism. In. W. E. MacLean (Ed). Ellis’ handbook of mental deficiency, psychological theory and research (3rd ed.), (pp. 311–342). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates: Mahwah, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenspan, S., Switzky, H. N., & Granfield, J. M. (1996). Everyday intelligence and adaptive behavior: A theoretical framework.. In J. W. Jacobson & J. A. Mulick. (Eds.), Manual of diagnosis and professional practice in mental retardation (pp. 127–136). Washington, DC: APA.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Greer, M. K., Brown, F. R., Pai, G. S., Choudry, S. H., & Klein, A. J. (1997). Cognitive, adaptive, and behavioral characteristics of Williams syndrome. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 74, 521–525.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gresham, F. M. (1998). Social skills training with children: Social learning and applied behavior analytic approaches. In T. S. Watson & F. M. Gresham (Eds.), Handbook of child behavior therapy (pp.475–504). New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gresham, F. M., & Elliot, S. N. (1990). Social Skills Rating System: Manual. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gresham, F. M., & Elliot, S. N. (1987). The relationship between adaptive behavior and social skills: Issues in definition and assessment. Journal of Special Education, 21, 167–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, P. L., & Oakland, T. (2003). Adaptive Behavior Assessment System–Second Edition. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heber, R. (1959). A manual on terminology and classification in mental retardation. American Journal on Mental Deficiency, 64 (monograph supplement).

    Google Scholar 

  • Iwata, B. A., Dorsey, M. F., Slifer, K. J., Bauman, K. E., & Richman, G. S. (1982). Toward a functional analysis of self-injury. Analysis and Intervention in Developmental Disabilities, 2, 3–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson, J. W., Mulick, J. A., & Rojahn, J. (Eds.) (2007). Handbook of intellectual and developmental disabilities. New York, NY: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasari, C., & Hodapp, R. M. (1996). Is Down syndrome different? Evidence from social and family studies. Down Syndrome Quarterly, 4, 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin, A. E. (1984). Behavior modification in applied settings (3rd ed.). Homewood, IL: Dorsey Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • LeBlanc, L. A., Matson, J. L., Cherry, K. E., & Bamburg, J. W. (1999). An examination of the convergent validity of the Matson Evaluation of Social Skills for Individuals with Severe Retardation (MESSIER) with sociometric ranking. British Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 45, 85–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowe, M. R., & Cautela, R. (1978). A self-report measure of social skills. Behavior Therapy, 9, 535–544.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L. (1995). The Matson Evaluation of Social Skills for Individuals with Severe Retardation. Baton Rouge, LA: Scientific Publishers, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L., Anderson, S. J., & Bamburg, J. W. (2000). The relationship of social skills to psychopathology for individuals with mild and moderate mental retardation. British Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 46, 15–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L., Carlisle, C. B., & Bamburg, J. W. (1998). The convergent validity of the Matson Evaluation of Social Skills for Individuals with Severe Retardation (MESSIER). Research in Developmental Disabilities, 19, 493–500.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L., Compton, L., S., & Sevin, J. A. (1991). Comparison and item analysis of the MESSY for autisitc and normal children. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 12, 361–369.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L., & Hammer, D. (1996). Assessment of social functioning. In J.W. Jacobson & J. A. Mulick (Eds.). Manual of diagnosis and professional practice in mental retardation (pp. 157–163). Washington, DC: APA.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L, Heinze, A., Helsel, W. J., Kapperman, G., & Rotatori, A. F. (1985). Assessing social behaviors in the visually handicapped: The Matson Evaluation of Social Skills with Youngsters (MESSY). Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 15, 78–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L., Helsel, W. J., Bellack, A. S., & Senatore, V. (1983). Development of a rating scale to assess social skills deficits in mentally retarded adults. Applied Research in Mental Retardation, 4, 399–407.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L., LeBlanc, L. A., & Weinheimer, B. (1999). Reliability of the Matson Evaluation of Social Skills in Individuals with Severe Retardation (MESSIER). Behavior Modification, 23, 647–661.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L., Rotari, A. F., & Helsel, W. J. (1983). Development of a rating scale to measure social skills in children: The Matson Evaluation of Social Skills in Youths (MESSY). Behaviour Research and Therapy, 21, 335–340.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L., Smiroldo, B. B., & Bamburg, J. W. (1998). The relationship of social skills to psychopathology for individuals with severe or profound mental retardation. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 23, 137–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGinnis, E., & Goldstein, A.P. (1997). Skillstreaming the elementary school child (rev ed.). Champaign, IL: Research Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meier, V. J., & Hope, D. A. (1998). Assessment of social skills. In S. A. Bellack, & M. Hersen (Eds.) (1998). Behavioral assessment: A practical handbook (4th ed., pp. 232–252). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merrell, K. W., & Popinga, M. R. (1994). The alliance of adaptive behavior and social competence: An examination of relationships between the Scales of Independent Behavior and the Social Skills Rating System. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 15, 39–47.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, L. H., Cole, D. A., McQuarter, R., & Reichle, J. (1990). Validation of the Assessment of Social Competence (ASC) for children and young adults with developmental disabilities. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 15, 57–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, L. H., Reichle, J., McQuarter, R., Cole, D. A., Vandercook, T., Evans, I., Neel, R., & Kishi, G. (1985). Assessment of Social Competence (ASC): A scale of social competence functions (revised). Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers, K., & Winters, N.C. (2002). Ten-year review of rating scales: Overview of scale functioning, psychometric properties, and selection. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 41, 114–122.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Partington, J. W., & Sumdberg, M. L. (1998). The assessment of basic language and learning skills. Pleasant Hills, CA: Behavior Analysts, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raymond, K. L., & Matson, J. L. (1989). Social skills in the hearing impaired. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 18, 247–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reschly, D. J., Myers, T. G., & Hartel, C. R. (Eds.), (2002). Mental retardation: Determining eligibility for mental retardation. Washington, DC.: National Academy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rojahn, J., & Tassé, M. J. (1996). Psychopathology in mental retardation. In J. W. Jacobson & J. A. Mulick. (Eds.), Manual of diagnosis and professional practice in mental retardation (pp. 147–156). Washington, DC: APA.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sattler, J. M. (2008). Assessment of children: Cognitive foundations (5th ed.). La Mesa, CA: Jerome M. Sattler Publisher.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schalock, R. L., & Bradock, D. L. (1999), (Eds.). Adaptive behavior and its measurement: Implications for the field of mental retardation. Washington, DC: American Association on Mental Retardation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siperstein, G. N. (1992). Social competence: An important construct in mental retardation. American Journal on Mental Retardation. 96(4), iii–vi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sparrow, S., Balla, D., & Cicchetti, D. (1984). The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales: Interview edition, survey form. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sparrow, S., Cicchetti, D., & Balla, D. (2005). The vineland adaptive behavior scales (2nd ed.), Survey forms manual. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tregdol, A. F. (1937). A textbook of mental deficiency. Baltimore, MD: Wood.

    Google Scholar 

  • Widaman, K. F., & McGrew, K. S. (1996). The structure of adaptive behavior. In J. W. Jacobson & J. A. Mulick. (Eds.), Manual of diagnosis and professional practice in mental retardation (pp. 97–110). Washington, DC: APA.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Lecavalier, L., Butter, E.M. (2010). Assessment of Social Skills and Intellectual Disability. In: Nangle, D., Hansen, D., Erdley, C., Norton, P. (eds) Practitioner's Guide to Empirically Based Measures of Social Skills. ABCT Clinical Assessment Series. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0609-0_12

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics