Abstract
The purpose of this study was to develop a child behavior checklist that could be completed on a daily basis and that included both positive and negative child behaviors. Participants in the study were six groups of individuals, including one group of clinical psychology graduate students and five groups of either clinic-referred or nonclinic children and their parents. Content, discriminant, concurrent, and statistical conclusion validity data as well as test-retest reliability data were collected on the Daily Child Behavior Checklist (DCBC). The results indicated that the instrument has satisfactory validity and reliability and is reasonably sensitive to daily changes in child behaviors. The advantages and uses of the DCBC are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Achenbach, T. M., and Edelbrock, C. S. Behavioral problems and competence reported by parents of normal and disturbed children aged four through sixteen.Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 1981,46 (1, Serial No. 188).
Behar, L., and Stringfield, S. A behavior rating scale for the preschool child.Developmental Psychology 1974,10 601–610.
Conners, C. K. Symptom patterns in hyperactive, neurotic and normal children.Child Development 1970,41 667–682.
Cowen, E. L., Huser, J., Beach, D. R., and Rappaport, J. Parental perceptions of young children and their relation to indexes of adjustment.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1970,34 97–103.
Delfini, L. F., Bernal, M. E., and Rosen, P. M. Comparison of deviant and normal boys in natural settings. In E. J. Mash, L. A. Hammerlynck, and Handy (Eds.),Behavior modification and families. New York: Brunner/Mazel, 1976.
Duncan, O. D. A socioeconomic index for all occupations. In A. J. Reiss, Jr. (Ed.),Occupations and social status. New York: Free Press, 1961.
Featherman, D. L., and Hauser, R. M. Commonalities in social stratification and assumptions about status mobility in the United States. In R. Hauser and D. Featherman (Eds.),The process of stratification. New York: Academic Press, 1977.
Forehand, R., and McMahon, R. J.Helping the noncompliant children: A clinician's guide to parent training. New York: Guilford, 1981.
Forehand, R., Wells, K. C., and Griest, D. L. An examination of the social validity of a parent training program.Behavior Therapy 1980,11 488–502.
Jacobson, J. S., Waldron, H., and Moore, D. Toward a behavioral profile of marital distress.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1980,48 696–703.
Jones, R.“Observation” by telephone: An economical behavior sampling technique. Oregon Research Institute Technical Report, 1974,14, No. 1.
Kanouse, D. E., and Hanson, L. R., Jr. Negativity in evaluations. In E. E. Jones, D. E. Kanouse, H. H. Kelley, R. E. Nisbett, S. Valins, and B. Weiner (Eds.),Attribution: Perceiving the causes of behavior. Morristown, N.J.: General Learning Press, 1972.
Lapouse, R., and Monk, M. A. An epidemiologic study of behavior characteristics in children.American Journal of Public Health 1958,48 1134–1144.
Lobitz, G. K., and Johnson, S. M. Normal versus deviant children: A multimethod comparison.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology 1975,3 353–374.
McCord, J., and McCord, W. Cultural stereotypes and the validity of interviews for research in child development.Child Development 1961,32 171–185.
Mednick, S. A., and Shaffer, J. B. P. Mothers' retrospective reports in child-rearing research.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 1963,33 457–461.
Miller, L. C., Barrett, C. L., Hampe, E., and Noble, H. Factor structure of childhood fears.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1972,39 264–268.
Peed, S. F., Roberts, M., and Forehand, R. Evaluations of the effectiveness of a standardized parent training program in altering the interaction of mothers and their noncompliant children.Behavior Modification 1977,3 323–350.
Peterson, D. R. Behavior problems of middle childhood.Journal of Consulting Psychology 1961,25 205–209.
Quay, H. C., and Peterson, D. R.Manual for the Behavior Problem Checklist. Unpublished manuscript, 1975.
Ross, A. O., Lacey, H. M., and Parton, D. A. The development of a behavior checklist for boys.Child Development 1965,36 1013–1027.
Sines, J. O., Pauker, J. D., Sines, L. K., and Owen, D. R. Identification of clinically relevant dimensions of children's behavior.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1969,33 728–734.
Spivack, G., and Spotts, J.Devereux child behavior rating scale manual. Devon, Pa.: Devereux Foundation, 1966.
Wahler, R. G., and Afton, A. D. Attentional processes in insular and noninsular mothers: Some differences in their summary reports about child problem behaviors.Child Behavior Therapy 1980,2 25–41.
Werry, J. S. Developmental hyperactivity.Pediatric Clinics of North America 1968,15 581–599.
Yarrow, M. R., Campbell, J. D., and Burton, R. V. Recollections of childhood: A study of the retrospective method.Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 1970,35 (5, Serial No. 138).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Furey, W., Forehand, R. The Daily Child Behavior Checklist. Journal of Behavioral Assessment 5, 83–95 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01321441
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01321441