Rating scale systems for assessing psychopathology: The achenbach system of empirically based assessment (ASEBA) and the behavior assessment system for children-2 (BASC-2)

Abstract

Over the past three decades, standardized rating forms obtained from multiple informants have become increasingly common in both clinical and school settings for assessing children's behavioral and emotional problems. Two widely used systems that assess a broad range of problems from the perspectives of parents, teachers, and children themselves are the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA; Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001) and the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC, BASC-2; Reynolds & Kamphaus, 1992; 2004). This chapter first presents the history of the ASEBA and the BASC and then summarizes the similarities between the two systems. The main focus of the chapter is a review of the important differences between the ASEBA and the BASC-2. The chapter closes with conclusions and implications. © 2009 Springer New York.