Abstract
After providing a brief review of three other approaches to assessment of preschool children (DSMโIV diagnoses, โZero to Threeโ diagnoses, and temperament scales), this paper focuses on the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA). The empirically based assessment paradigm provides userโfriendly, costโeffective, reliable, and valid procedures for assessing children's behavioral/emotional problems from the perspectives of multiple informants. The ASEBA preschool forms, the Child Behavior Checklist for ages 1.5โ5 (CBCL/1.5โ5) and the CaregiverโTeacher Report Form (CโTRF), are usable by many different kinds of professionals in diverse settings. The CBCL/1.5โ5 also includes the Language Development Survey (LDS), which provides a quick screen for delays in vocabulary and word combinations. The problem items of the CBCL/1.5โ5 and the CโTRF are scored on both empirically based syndromes and DSMโoriented scales, which are normed on the same general population sample. Variations in children's functioning across contexts and interaction partners make it essential to obtain and integrate data from multiple sources. Therefore, ASEBA software provides sideโbyโside comparisons of item and scale scores from up to eight assessment forms per child. Clinical and research applications of ASEBA preschool forms are summarized in the paper, and strengths and limitations are discussed. ยฉ 2005 WileyโLiss, Inc. MRDD Research Reviews 2005;11:226โ237.