Mapping the Research Base for Universal Behavior Screeners

Abstract

Universal behavior screening is used in schools worldwide to detect students with and at risk for behavioral challenges. A plethora of instruments is available for this purpose, though little metascience has been conducted to review and synthesize methods used to study these instruments in educational settings, nor is there a comprehensive list of instruments to support educators in selecting an appropriate tool. We conducted this review to provide a rigorous—and accessible—overview of the research base for universal behavior screening instruments to facilitate educators’ decision-making process when selecting a systematic screening tool for the students they serve and identify areas of further refinement for the research community. This scoping review includes an extensive list of behavior screening instruments, an examination of how these tools have been studied, and areas for future research. We identified 56 behavior screening instruments. The most common psychometric analyses included coefficient alpha for internal consistency, correlations between theoretically related variables, and confirmatory factor analysis. We discuss other methods currently employed as well as methods and complexities for consideration in future research.