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Validity and reliability of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale with autistic adolescents

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders volume 18, pages 367–378 (1988)Cite this article

Abstract

The validity and reliability of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) for autistic adolescents was tested. In the first study, CARS scores for autistic children and adolescents (matched on nonverbal IQ, sex, and ethnicity) were compared. In the second study, a group of nonautistic, handicapped adolescents were administered the CARS and these scores were compared with those of a group of autistic adolescents (matched on age, nonverbal IQ, sex, and ethnicity). The CARS clearly discriminated the two adolescent groups, suggesting that the scale may be an adequate measure of autism in adolescence. Although the CARS total score did not discriminate the younger from older autistic subjects, some interesting age-related differences emerged for specific items. A recommendation is made for elimination of one of the items on the CARS that negatively correlates with the CARS total score for both autistic groups.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. North Texas State University, Texas, USA

    Deborah G. Garfin & Denise McCallon

Authors
  1. Deborah G. Garfin
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  2. Denise McCallon
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Additional information

This paper is based on a thesis submitted by the second author to North Texas State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts. Portions of this research were presented at the Southwestern Psychological Association Annual Meeting in Ft. Worth, Texas, April 1986. The authors thank the children and their teachers who participated in this research. We are particularly grateful to Dallas Independent School District Special Education Director Dr. Ruth Turner, Ms. Alberta Rogers, Administrative Assistant, and the Dallas Autism Program staff who helped in both training raters and coordinating this project.

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Garfin, D.G., McCallon, D. Validity and reliability of the Childhood Autism Rating Scale with autistic adolescents. J Autism Dev Disord 18, 367–378 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02212193

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02212193

Keywords

  • School Psychology
  • Childhood Autism
  • Specific Item
  • Adequate Measure
  • Autistic Group