Protective factor screening for prevention practice: Sensitivity and specificity of the DESSA-Mini.

Abstract

The Devereux Student Strengths Assessment Mini (DESSA-Mini; Naglieri, LeBuffe, & Shapiro, 2011/2014) was designed to overcome practical obstacles to universal prevention screening. This article seeks to determine whether an entirely strength-based, 8-item screening instrument achieves technical accuracy in routine practice. Data come from a district-wide implementation of a new social emotional learning (SEL) initiative designed to promote students' social-emotional competence. All students, kindergarten through Grade 8, were screened using the DESSA-Mini. A random 5 students per classroom received additional assessment. Concurrent and predictive criterion studies were conducted using the full DESSA as well as administrative records of serious disciplinary infraction. The DESSA-Mini showed excellent internal reliability, exceeding .90. Negligible to small differences were found between scores on the DESSA-Mini screen and the DESSA full assessment. Classification consistency between the DESSA-Mini and the DESSA was high (87%-94%) in routine practice, with sensitivity and specificity estimates exceeding Glascoe's (2005) standards. Finally, predictive validity of the DESSA-Mini was reliable; students screened as having a Need for SEL Instruction at the beginning of the year were 4.5 times more likely to have a record of serious disciplinary infraction at the end of the school year compared with those who were not identified (p Ͻ .001). These findings compare quite favorably with other instruments used in schools to screen entire student populations, in cases where such analyses have been conducted, and is consistent with a practice preference of identifying, but not overidentifying, students for accelerated preventative interventions for mental, emotional, and behavioral problems.

Psychometric Fundamentals of the Social Skills Improvement System: Social–Emotional Learning Edition Rating Forms

“…This assessment is completed by parents and teachers; there is no student/child self-rating scale. As described by Shapiro, Kim, Robitaille, and LeBuffe (2017), the DESSA was standardized on a sample of nearly 2,500 students. There are not separate norms for age groups or for boys and girls.…”

Before‐School Physical Activity Program's Impact on Social and Emotional Learning

“…A 10‐item adapted version of the Devereux Student Strengths Assessment‐Mini (DESSA‐Mini) was administered to measure the participants' SEL competence. The DESSA‐Mini is a valid and reliable instrument (internal reliability exceeding .90) to measure social‐emotional competence for students from kindergarten to 8th grade 36 . Despite the ease in administering and being aligned with the CASEL framework, the DESSA‐mini is limited to providing a broad representation of students' SEL skills without the ability to identify specific competency areas 37 .…”

“…Physical activity can be integrated into subjects or can be used as a “break” from academic instruction in elementary schools. Studies have shown that short bouts of classroom physical activity are beneficial in increasing students' daily physical activity 10,36 Physical education teachers could provide physical activity guides (eg, fitness activities that do not need equipment) for students to engage at home, after school, or during the weekends.…”

“…The DESSA-Mini is a valid and reliable instrument (internal reliability exceeding .90) to measure social-emotional competence for students from kindergarten to 8th grade. 36 Despite the ease in administering and being aligned with the CASEL framework, the DESSA-mini is limited to providing a broad representation of students' SEL skills without the ability to identify specific competency areas. 37 The participants responded to the adapted 10-item DESSA-Mini on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = never; 1 = rarely; 2 = occasionally; 3 = frequently; 4 = very frequently).…”

Impact of School Closure Due to COVID-19 on the Social-Emotional Skills of Japanese Pre-school Children

“…Child's social-emotional skills was assessed by class teachers using Devereux Student Strengths Assessment-Mini (DESSAmini) (12)(13)(14), which is one of the major assessment tools of child's social-emotional skills and is applicable to children aged 5-14 years old. The DESSA-mini consists of 8 items assessed on a five-point Likert scale (from 0 = "never" to 4 = "very frequently") and has a high internal consistency (Cronbach α = 0.919).…”