Intervention validity of social behavior rating scales: Features of assessments that link results to treatment plans

The term intervention validity refers to the extent to which assessment results can be used to guide the selection of interventions and evaluation of outcomes. In this article, the authors review the defining attributes of rating scales that distinguish them from other assessment tools, assumptions regarding the use of rating scales to measure children's social behaviors, and features of scale design that promote intervention validity. They argue that integration of a pragmatic theory for problem solution, assessment of socially valid content, and utilization of a reporting framework aligned to known and effective intervention options are essential to promoting intervention validity of rating scale measures. To illustrate, they describe the combined theoretical and empirical approach used to develop the Social Skills Rating System and its recent revision, the Social Skills Improvement System. Ongoing challenges in the integration and monitoring of social skills interventions are discussed, and possible strategies for linking assessment to intervention are described.