2019HarrisADClinPsy.pdf (4.99 MB)
The Structure and Psychometric Properties of the BERRI, an Outcome Measure for Looked After Children in Residential Care
thesis
posted on 2019-11-14, 17:11 authored by Abigail HarrisMental health outcome measures are being increasingly used to monitor the efficacy of
interventions put in place to support children. For Looked After Children (LAC),
mental health outcome measures are of further importance for placement planning. It is
important that the measures used for these purposes are psychometrically robust.
Literature Review:
The psychometric properties of 25 informant rated mental health outcome measures for
young people were systematically reviewed. A novel quality appraisal tool was
developed to evaluate evidence pertaining to internal consistency, test-retest and interrater
reliability (IRR), construct validity and responsiveness. No measure provided
evidence of acceptable rigour in all assessed domains. Generally, this was a result of an
absence of evidence. A need for further research pertaining to the psychometric
properties of these measures, particularly with respect to their responsiveness to change,
test-retest and inter-rater reliability was identified.
Research Report:
This study aimed to explore the psychometric properties of the BERRI in its current
form for use with LAC in residential care and to explore whether these properties might
be enhanced through the extraction of factors. Evidence of good internal consistency
and construct validity was found for all original scales. Inter-rater reliability was ‘poormoderate’
for three of the five scales and ‘moderate-good’ for the remaining two and
the BERRI total score. An exploration of the structure of the BERRI using principal
components analysis revealed a five component structure. The psychometric properties
of the BERRI were not improved through the empirical extraction of components.
Suggestions were made with regards to the item content of the BEERI. Consideration
was given to the clinical implications arising from the exploration of the measure’s IRR
and subsequently how IRR might be improved. Overall, the BERRI was felt to show
promise as a targeted outcome measure for use with LAC in residential care.
History
Supervisor(s)
Gareth MorganDate of award
2019-09-20Author affiliation
Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and BehaviourAwarding institution
University of LeicesterQualification level
- Doctoral
Qualification name
- DClinPsy
