The Devereux Student Strengths Assessment High School Edition (DESSA-HSE) is designed to assess social and emotional skills in 9-12th graders. It is aligned with the CASEL framework and measures eight SEL competencies (self awareness, self management, social awareness, relationship skills, optimistic thinking, decision making, personal responsibility, and goal-directed behavior). Other versions of the DESSA exist, including a K-8 version and short-forms for both the HSE and K-8.
Content
Optimistic Thinking, Goal Directed Behavior
Administration Information
Must train administrators through online or on-site training
Access and Use
Price varies based on number of schools, but starts at $1500 per school per year for unlimited access to tests and reports
1-844-685-2499
While DESSA-HSE is relatively new and has not been used in peer-reviewed research, see link below for a list of research using alternate forms of DESSA including DESSA-mini.
https://apertureed.com/products-solutions/research/research-and-publica…
Psychometrics
LeBuffe, P. A., Shapiro, V. B., & Robitaille, J. L. (2018). The Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA) comprehensive system: Screening, assessing, planning, and monitoring. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 55, 62-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2017.05.002
LeBuffe, P.A., Shapiro, V.B., & Naglieri, J.A. (2012/2014). The Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA): Assessment, technical manual, and user’s guide. Fort Mill, SC: Aperture Education.
Nickerson, A. B., & Fishman, C. (2009). Convergent and divergent validity of the Devereux Student Strengths Assessment. School Psychology Quarterly, 24(1), 48. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015147
Tsang, K.L.V., Wong, P.Y.H., & Lo, S.K. (2012). Assessing psychosocial well-being of adolescents: A systematic review of measurement instruments. Child: Care, Health and Development, 38(35), 629-646. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01355.x
Woodland, S., Smith, G., Fleming, J., O'Neill-Mullin, K., Shortall, A., & Ross K. (2014). The Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA) Spanish Equivalency Study. Devereux Center for Resilient Children. https://apertureed.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Spanish-DESSA-study-r…