Assessing the conversational behaviour of psychiatric patients: Reliability and validity of the Verbal Report Form (VRF).

Abstract

A two part study investigated the reliability and validity of a new behavioural rating scale, the Verbal Report Form (VRF), in measuring brief unstructured verbal interactions of chronic mental patients. In Study 1, six subjects rated 12 video taped segments of verbal behaviour differing in length of time. The results indicated that a 2-minute time segment was necessary to accurately assess conversational behaviour (mean rater agreement = .76). In Study 2, 15 raters (five psychologists, five psychiatric technicians, and five non-professional community members) rated 15 2-minute video tapes of verbal behaviour (five hospitalized patients, five board and care residents, and five normals). Results of an analysis of variance suggest that the VRF could discriminate among the three contrasting groups using the number of inappropriate responses rated (p < .01). Results are also discussed in terms of differences between raters and difference in the discriminability of the categories of the VRF.

Validation of groups derived by cluster analysis of psychiatric inpatients' MMPI item responses and scales

“…Obviously the length of the BCS and the advanced level of psychological training required for proper utilization of the BCS constrain the usefulness of the scale. Tarlow, Alevizos and Callahan (1976) (Lorr, 1962) was developed for use in quantifying criteria for change when investigating the ef fects of psychological treatments and psychoactive medication. The…”