Overview
The Scales of Independent Behavior – Revised (SIB-R; Bruininks, Woodcock, Weatherman, & Hill, 1996) is an individually-administered, norm-referenced comprehensive measure of adaptive and problem behaviors for persons aged 3 months to 80+ years old. The SIB-R assesses functional independence and adaptive functioning across settings: school, home, workplace, and community. The authors note that the SIB-R was designed for individual evaluation, individualized program planning, selection, and placement, and to assess service needs. The SIB-R may be administered using the structured interview or a checklist procedure. Three versions are available: Full Scale, Short Form (screening), and Early Development Form (brief, for those with developmental functioning below 8 years old).
Information obtained during the assessment yields two overall scores, the Adaptive Behavior Full Scale score and the Problem Behavior Scale score. Different rating systems are used for the two scales. The Adaptive Behavior items are rated based on the extent to which the individual performs a task completely and independently (with no help or supervision). The Problem Behavior scale is rated based on the frequency and severity of each behavior. Additionally, a Support Scale score is available. This score, based on the information obtained from the other two scales, indicates an approximate level of support that an individual may need in order to be independent in different areas.
Summary
Age: 3 months to 80+ years
Time to Administer: 45–60 mins. (Full Scale); 15–20 mins. (Short or Early Development Forms)
Method of Administration: Individually administered, norm-referenced measure of adaptive behavior in 14 areas of adaptive behavior and 8 areas of problem behavior. May be administered as a structured interview or as a checklist.
Subscales: Overall Composites: Adaptive Behavior Full Scale; Problem Behavior Scale
Cluster Scores: Motor Skills; Personal Living Skills; Social Interaction and Communication Skills; Community Living Skills
Additional Index Scores: Maladaptive Indices (General, Internalized, Asocial, Externalized)
Also Available: Support Score (weighted measure of maladaptive and adaptive behaviors); Broad Independence