Choosing an instrument: Points to consider

Screening programs need to consider many factors in choosing an appropriate screening instrument, in addition to the Task Force's review criteria and additional considerations.

Instrument characteristics

• Special consideration should be given to the specificity and sensitivity as the screening instrument needs to be able to accurately identify those who need additional assessment and those who do not.
• Reliability and validity still remain important. Is the instrument reliable and valid for the populations it will be administered to?
• The age of the instrument is important: If the instrument was developed more than 15 years ago, this can decrease its validity:
  • Minnesota's demographics have changed considerably, and an older instrument may have been normed on a population that does not represent this diversity.
  • The instrument's questions, images, or child development expectations may no longer be current or relevant.

Population to be screened

• Age: For what age range was the instrument validated?
  • A screening instrument must only be used for the age range and purpose for which it was designed and validated.
• Culture/ ethnicity: Screening instruments have not been validated for every cultural or language group in Minnesota. Screening results may be used as one piece of information decide about whether more evaluation is needed - in the context of everything else that is known about the child, the family, and their community. Some questions to consider:
  • Is the instrument valid and reliable for the population being screened?
  • Are the illustrations, materials and questions relevant to a particular culture?
• Language:
  • Has the instrument been translated into languages other than English?
  • Has the instrument been tested and validated in that language? Are cut-off scores different for different cultural or language groups?
• Education level and/or literacy level of parents and caregivers: At what reading level is the instrument written? What additional supports might be needed if the parent/caregiver has a low literacy level?
  • Who is answering the questions on a parent-report instrument?
  • For instruments created for parents/caregivers, the screening instrument should only be completed by guardians unless the manual specifies that it can be completed by other care providers (e.g., childcare providers, teachers) who routinely spend a significant amount of time with the child.

Screening setting and staff

• Qualifications of staff: Are the program's current staff qualified (based on the instruments recommendations) to administer, score, communicate, and make referrals based on the results of the screening?
• Do efforts need to be made to diversify program staff to better meet the cultural or language needs of the program's screening population?
• If an instrument is to be administered via interpreters has there been training of the interpreters to increase the validity of results? What additional prompts might need to be added?
  • Screening and Interpreters training video is a resource for both interpreters and staff prior to the screening appointment. Whenever possible, hire bilingual staff who are trained to administer the instruments.

Where to find information to make a decision

For answers to many of the questions listed above for any given instrument, refer to the Recommended Screening Instruments page.