ERIC Number: EJ1337016
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022-May
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1389-4986
EISSN: N/A
Development and Initial Psychometrics of a Generic Treatment Integrity Measure Designed to Assess Practice Elements Targeting Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Outcomes in Early Childhood Settings
McLeod, Bryce D.; Sutherland, Kevin S.; Broda, Michael; Granger, Kristen L.; Martinez, Ruben G.; Conroy, Maureen A.; Snyder, Patricia A.; Southam-Gerow, Michael A.
Prevention Science, v23 n4 p488-501 May 2022
Though treatment integrity measurement is important for research intended to promote social and behavioral outcomes of children at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders (EBDs) in early childhood settings, measurement gaps exist in the field. This paper reports on the development and preliminary psychometric assessment of the treatment integrity measure for early childhood settings (TIMECS), an observational measure designed to address existing measurement gaps related to treatment integrity with tier 2 interventions in the early childhood field. To assess the preliminary score reliability (interrater) and validity (construct, discriminant) of the TIMECS, live observations (N = 650) in early childhood classrooms from 54 teachers (92.6% female, 7.4% male; 61.1% White) and 91 children (M age = 4.53 years, SD = 0.44; 45.1% female, 54.9% male; 45.1% Black) at risk for EBDs were scored by 12 coders using the TIMECS and an observational measure designed to assess teacher-child interactions. Teachers also self-reported on the quality of the teacher-child relationship. Interrater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients, ICC [2,2]) for the quantity (i.e., adherence) item scores had a mean of 0.81 (SD = 0.07; range from 0.68 to 0.95), and the quality (i.e., competence) item scores had a mean of 0.69 (SD = 0.08; range from 0.52 to 0.80). Scores on the TIMECS Quantity and Quality items and scales showed evidence of construct validity, with the magnitude of the correlations suggesting that the quantity and quality items assess distinct components of treatment integrity. A TIMECS quantity scale also showed promise for intervention evaluation research by discriminating between teachers who had and had not been trained in a specific evidence-based intervention targeting social and behavioral skills in early childhood. The findings support the potential of the TIMECS to assess treatment integrity of teacher-delivered practices designed to address child social and behavioral outcomes of children at risk for EBDs in early childhood settings. [For the corresponding grantee submission, see ED618135.]
Descriptors: Psychometrics, Measures (Individuals), Fidelity, Integrity, Early Childhood Education, Intervention, Interrater Reliability, Test Reliability, Construct Validity, Scores, At Risk Students, Emotional Disturbances, Behavior Disorders, Self Evaluation (Individuals), Evidence Based Practice, Early Childhood Teachers, Interpersonal Competence
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Authoring Institution: N/A
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R305A140487