Reliability and validity of a Chinese language universal behavioral screener

ABSTRACT This study examines the reliability and validity of the Chinese language version of the Integrated Screening and Intervention System Teacher Rating Form (ITRF) as a screening tool for problem behaviors among secondary school students in Hong Kong. The Chinese ITRF was validated through identifying factor structure using exploratory factor analysis and evaluating internal consistency, temporal stability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. Thirty-one teachers completed the ITRF and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for five students nominated for behavioral problems and five randomly chosen students in their class with a subset of 27 teachers repeating the procedure two to five weeks later for test–retest analysis. Results support a two-factor structure (i.e., Oppositional/Disruptive, Academic Productivity/Disorganization) as identified in the original ITRF and German ITRF. The Chinese ITRF demonstrated adequate internal consistency (αs > .90) and temporal stability (rs > .80). Correlation coefficients between similar (rs = .54–.74) and dissimilar (rs = .06–.24) ITRF and SDQ subscales supported its convergent validity and discriminant validity, respectively. The findings imply the measurement invariance of the ITRF and usability of the Chinese ITRF as a validated universal screener for behavior.