Effects of adaptive behavior on achievement: Path analysis of a national sample.

Abstract

Although adaptive behavior assessment is required prior to placement in school programs for the mentally retarded, there has been little evidence suggesting that adaptive behavior has any effect on learning or achievement for either normal or handicapped children. Given the centrality of learning to schooling, it seems important to determine the extent of the influence of adaptive behavior on academic achievement if adaptive behavior assessment is to be useful in educational settings. Our research used path analysis with a large, contemporary sample to determine the effect of adaptive behavior on achievement while controlling for other important background influences. Results suggest that adaptive behavior indeed has a significant and important effect on achievement, thus strengthening support for its inclusion in psychoeducational assessments.