Are there guidelines available to help teachers report objective observations of student behaviors rather than subjective opinions?
GTP: Guidelines, no; instruments, yes. Probably everybody associated with schools is familiar with such rating instruments as the Conner Scales. I’m giving away a trade secret when I tell you that as a psychiatrist, I have no faith at all in ratings on the Conner Scales when they’re used for “diagnosis.” The reason for my skepticism is that the Conner instrument rates behaviors associated with only one diagnostic category (Attention-deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder). For help with diagnosis, I prefer a broad-based, multidimensional rating instrument such as the Child Behavior Check List (CBCL), developed by Dr. Thomas Achenbach at the University of Vermont. Once a diagnosis of ADHD is made, the Conner scales are very useful in helping us objectively monitor the child’s response to treatment.
