TY - JOUR
T1 - Concept guided risk assessment
T2 - Promoting prediction and understanding
AU - Baumann, Donald J.
AU - Grigsby, Charles
AU - Sheets, Janess
AU - Reid, Grant
AU - Graham, J. Christopher
AU - Robinson, David
AU - Holoubek, Jason
AU - Farris, James
AU - Jeffries, Victoria
AU - Wang, Eugene
PY - 2011/9
Y1 - 2011/9
N2 - This article presents a concept-guided approach to the assessment of risk in the life situations of children alleged to be maltreatment victims. This concept-guided risk assessment is theoretically based and is the first to use a nomological hierarchy which can yield itself to systematic testing for construct validity. Data were collected on 1199 cases referred for investigations of child maltreatment. Reliability was examined by applying Cronbach's alpha coefficient to the 25 risk features and the 18 risk category constructs within the seven risk areas. Convergent validity coefficients for seven risk area constructs and eighteen risk category constructs were computed and structural validity was examined using an analysis technique adapted from the multitrait-multimethod technique of Campbell and Fiske (1959). Predictive validity was assessed using a multivariate measure assessing rated risk, seriousness, and concern. In general, the results support construct validity. Improvements are needed in assessments of child vulnerability and caregiver stress. The overall psychometric evidence, combined with the model's hierarchical and theoretical nature, suggests a promising direction for future research on understanding and preventing child maltreatment.
AB - This article presents a concept-guided approach to the assessment of risk in the life situations of children alleged to be maltreatment victims. This concept-guided risk assessment is theoretically based and is the first to use a nomological hierarchy which can yield itself to systematic testing for construct validity. Data were collected on 1199 cases referred for investigations of child maltreatment. Reliability was examined by applying Cronbach's alpha coefficient to the 25 risk features and the 18 risk category constructs within the seven risk areas. Convergent validity coefficients for seven risk area constructs and eighteen risk category constructs were computed and structural validity was examined using an analysis technique adapted from the multitrait-multimethod technique of Campbell and Fiske (1959). Predictive validity was assessed using a multivariate measure assessing rated risk, seriousness, and concern. In general, the results support construct validity. Improvements are needed in assessments of child vulnerability and caregiver stress. The overall psychometric evidence, combined with the model's hierarchical and theoretical nature, suggests a promising direction for future research on understanding and preventing child maltreatment.
KW - Concept guided
KW - Construct validity
KW - Multi-trait-multi-method matrix
KW - Theoretically based risk assessment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79960441684&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.04.017
DO - 10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.04.017
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79960441684
SN - 0190-7409
VL - 33
SP - 1648
EP - 1657
JO - Children and Youth Services Review
JF - Children and Youth Services Review
IS - 9
ER -