Instruments
Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0 (TSIA2)
The Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0 (TSIA2) was introduced in 2021, replacing the previous version utilized since 2013. As per the Texas State Legislature mandate, all students entering Texas public higher education institutions must undergo TSIA2 or qualify for one of its exemptions. The TSIA2 evaluates students' readiness for college-level coursework by testing them in English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) and Mathematics.
In ELAR, TSIA2 focuses on two key areas: reading and writing. The reading portion assesses comprehension and analysis of literary, informational, and argumentative texts, including paired passages. Meanwhile, the writing portion evaluates skills in revising and editing sentences, paragraphs, and early drafts of essays.
In mathematics, TSIA2 focuses on four key areas: quantitative reasoning, algebraic reasoning, geometric and spatial reasoning, and probabilistic and statistical reasoning.
Students taking the TSIA2 begin by completing College Readiness Classification (CRC) tests in ELAR and mathematics, comprising multiple-choice questions. If students fail to meet the college readiness benchmarks on these CRC tests, they proceed with the multiple-choice diagnostic tests in ELAR and Mathematics. These diagnostic tests present an additional chance for the students to demonstrate their preparedness for college-level coursework. They also highlight students' strengths and weaknesses in specific content areas, thus facilitating their placement into suitable courses and enabling them to receive the necessary remedial support and interventions.
Year developed: 2021 (TSIA2 replaced TSIA introduced in 2013).
Category: Academic Knowledge and Skills
Sub-Category: College Readiness
Grades: Post secondary
The Academic Motivation Scale (AMS)
The Echelle de Motivation en Education (EME) is based on the tenets of self-determination theory and is composed of 28 items subdivided into 7 subscales assessing three types of intrinsic motivation (intrinsic motivation to know, to accomplish things, and to experience stimulation), three types of extrinsic motivation (external, introjected, and identified regulation), and amotivation. The EME was translated into English and named the Academic Motivation Scale. The English version, the AMS, showed satisfactory levels of internal consistency temporal stability over a one-month period. A confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the 7-factor structure of the AMS. A college version is also available.
Category: Student Well-Being
Sub-Category: Social-Emotional Competence
Grades: 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade, Post secondary
The Bridge-Positive Youth Development (Bridge-PYD)
The Bridge-Positive Youth Development measure is an open-source, 40-item Likert survey initially validated using responses from 7-18-year-old children in a community-based after school program in Denver, CO. It uses a resilience-based framework incorporating the 5 Cs: Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, and Caring/Compassion.
Category: Student Well-Being
Sub-Category: Social-Emotional Competence
Grades: 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade
The Brief Resilience Scale (BRS)
The brief resilience scale (BRS) was created to assess the ability to bounce back or recover from stress. The BRS is comprised of 6 items. Items 1, 3, and 5 are positively worded while items 2, 4, and 6 are negatively worded. The BRS is scored by reverse coding items 2, 4, and 6, and finding the mean of the 6 items. The Likert Scale for the BRS is as follows: 1=strongly disagree, 2=disagree, 3=neutral, 4=agree, 5=strongly agree.
Category: Student Well-Being
Sub-Category: Social-Emotional Competence
Grades: Post secondary
The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ)
The ERQ (Gross & John, 2003) comprises 10 items assessing the ER strategies of CR (6 items) and ES (4 items). Items are rated on a 7-point Likert-type response scale. Higher scores on each scale indicate greater use of the corresponding ER strategy.
Category: Student Well-Being
Sub-Category: Social-Emotional Competence
Grades: Post secondary
The Flourishing Children Project (FCP)
The Flourishing Children Project, funded by the John Templeton Foundation, has constructed 20 scales based on a nationally representative sample to measure different dimensions of personal flourishing. The scales are open access, and many offer versions for both adolescents (ages 12-18) and parents. The scales fall into 5 categories: Personal Flourishing, Flourishing in School and Work, Flourishing in Relationships, Relationship Skills, and Environmental Stewardship.
Category: Student Well-Being
Sub-Category: Social-Emotional Competence
Grades: 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade
The Home Observation Measurement of the Environment-Short Form (HOME-SF)
The Home Observation Measurement of the Environment-Short Form (HOME-SF) is an observation instrument commonly used to measure the home environment of children ages birth to 15 years old. The HOME-SF is an abridged version of the HOME inventory, which is twice the length, and contains mother-reported items. The HOME-SF provides cognitive stimulation and emotional support subscores along with the total score.
Category: Home and Community
Sub-Category: Parenting
The Problem Solving Inventory (PSI)
The PSI assesses an individual's awareness and evaluation of his or her problem-solving abilities or style, thus provides a global of that individual as a problem solver.The PSI is a self-reported measure . The PSI consists of 35 six-point Likert items (with 3 filler questions), which constitute 3 factors: Problem-Solving Confidence, Approach-Avoidance Style, and Personal Control. The questions were constructed by the authors as face valid measures of each of the five problem-solving stages, based on a revision of an earlier problem-solving inventory. The items were randomly ordered and written to contain an equal number of positive and negative statements about problem solving. Low scores indicate behaviors and attitudes typically associated with successful problem solving.
Category: Student Well-Being
Sub-Category: Social-Emotional Competence
Grades: Post secondary
The Scale for Teachers' Assessment of Routines Engagement (STARE)
The Scale for Teachers’ Assessment of Routines Engagement (STARE) documents teachers’ perspectives of a child’s engagement in classroom activities. Suitable for both typically developing children and children with disabilities, STARE focuses on how much time the child was engaged with adults, peers, and materials (toys, art supplies, environment in general). In addition, STARE explores how complex the engagement was. STARE is completed after a specific classroom activity and takes about 20 seconds. The STARE can be completed as frequently as necessary.
Category: Student Well-Being
Sub-Category: Belonging
Grades: < 3 Years, Pre-Kindergarten
The Self-Construal Scale
The Self-Construal scale is a 30 items scale used to measure how people view themselves in relation to others. 2 subscales; interdependent self-construal and independent self-construal, comprise this scale. Each item is answered using a 7-point rating scale (1=strongly disagree, 4=neither agree or disagree, and 7=strongly agree). 15 items measure how much the repondent sees their self as separate, unique, and indepedentfrom others, while 15 items measure how much the respondent sees their self as connected, similar, and interdependent with others. Researchers have used the Self-Construal Scale with teens and adults from a wide range of socioeconomic, ethnic, and national backgrounds, including Americans of African, Asian, European, Latinx, Native, and Pacific Islander heritages who live on a low income or are working-class.
Category: Student Well-Being
Sub-Category: Social-Emotional Competence
Grades: Post secondary
The Social Problem Solving Inventory Revised
The Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised (SPSI-R; D’Zurilla et al., 2002) is a 52-item, Likert-type inventory consisting of five major scales that measure the five different dimensions in the D’Zurilla et al. social problem-solving model. These scales are the Positive Problem Orientation (PPO) scale (5 items), the Negative Problem Orientation (NPO) scale (10 items), the Rational Problem Solving (RPS) scale (20 items), the Impulsivity/Carelessness Style (ICS) scale (10 items), and the Avoidance Style (AS)scale (7 items). Using this instrument, “good” social problem-solving ability is indicated by high scores on PPO and RPS and low scores on NPO, ICS, and AS, whereas “poor” social problem-solving ability is indicated by low scores on PPO and RPS and high scores on NPO, ICS, and AS. In addition to the five major scales, the RPS scale is broken down into four subscales (each with five items) that measure the four major problem-solving skills in the D’Zurilla et al. social problem-solving model: (a) the Problem Definition and Formulation (PDF) subscale, (b) the Generation of Alternative Solutions (GAS) subscale,(c) the Decision Making (DM) subscale, and (d) the Solution Implementation and Verification (SIVS) subscale. A 25-item short form of the SPSI-R is also available that measures the five major problem-solving dimensions but does not provide subscales that measure the four specific skills within the rational problem-solving construct.
Category: Student Well-Being
Sub-Category: Social-Emotional Competence
Grades: 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade, Post secondary
The Social-Emotional Assets and Resilience Scales (SEARS)
The Social-Emotional Assets and Resilience Scales (SEARS) were developed at the University of Oregon and are sold by Psychological Assessment Resources (PAR). They measure responsibility, self regulation, social competence, and empathy, and contain both long and short forms for K-12 students, parents, and teachers. The forms are often used for progress monitoring and program evaluations. PAR sells the forms in English and Spanish, and they have also been translated into Chinese and Portuguese.
Category: Student Well-Being
Sub-Category: Social-Emotional Competence
Grades: Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade
Tool to Measure Parenting Self-Efficacy (TOPSE)
The Tool to Measure Parenting Self-Efficacy (TOPSE) is a UK-developed instrument that assesses six parenting domains: emotion and affection, play and enjoyment, empathy and understanding, control, discipline and boundary setting, pressures of parenting self-acceptance and learning and knowledge. The instrument is designed to be completed on the first session and last session of a parenting program.
Category: Home and Community
Sub-Category: Parenting
Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire Assessment Suite (TEIQue)
The TEIQue is a scientific measurement instrument based exclusively on trait EI theory and providing a comprehensive assessment of the emotional world of the individual. The TEIQue is predicated on trait EI theory, which conceptualises emotional intelligence as a personality trait, located at the lower levels of personality hierarchies. Several version of the TEIQue are available.
Category: Student Well-Being
Sub-Category: Social-Emotional Competence
Grades: 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade, Post secondary
UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 3)
UCLA Loneliness Scale-3 is an instrument measuring self-reported subjective feelings of loneliness and social isolation. Its 20 items use a Likert-type rating scale ranging from 1 (never) to 4 (always).
Category: Student Well-Being
Sub-Category: Mental Health
Grades: 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade, Post secondary
Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Assessment Scale (VADRS)
The Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale (VADRS) measures how severe the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are and helps diagnose other common conditions comorbid with ADHD in children aged 6-12. There are two versions of VADRS: the parent form and the teacher form. Both versions include all 18 criteria for ADHD from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Category: Student Well-Being
Sub-Category: Neurodiversity
Grades: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade
VIA Youth Survey
The Values in Action Youth Survey (VIA Youth Survey) is an open-access Likert survey for children ages 10-17 measuring 24 character strengths within the broad categories Courage, Humanity, Justice, Temperance, Transcendence, and Wisdom. It has both a 96- and 198- item version, and it has been adapted into many other languages and shorter forms. Values in Action also makes adult character strength surveys and other assessments for younger children such as the Character Strengths Inventory for Children (CSI-C) and the Character Strengths Inventory for Early Childhood (CSI-EC) for children ages 7-12 and 3-6, respectively.
Category: Student Well-Being
Sub-Category: Social-Emotional Competence
Grades: 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales Third Edition (Vineland-3)
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales Third Edition (Vineland-3) is an instrument for diagnosing intellectual and developmental disabilities and planning treatment. Vineland-3 focuses on the following domains of adaptive behavior: 1) communication, 2) daily living skills, and 3) socialization. Vineland-3 offers the Survey Interview Form for conducting semi-structured interviews with parents or caregivers, the Parent/Caregiver Rating Forms questionnaire (can be used for all ages), and the Teacher Rating Form (can be used for ages 3-21).
Category: Student Well-Being
Sub-Category: Neurodiversity
Grades: < 3 Years, Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade, Post secondary
Woodcock-Johnson IV - ELA
The Woodcock-Johnson IV contains three co-normed batteries that measure strengths and weaknesses and diagnose learning abilities. The WJ IV is an individually-administered comprehensive assessment suite that can identify patterns of strength and weaknesses in cognitive, language, and academic abilities. In addition to oral language, reading, and writing, the WJ IV also assesses mathematics.
Category: Academic Knowledge and Skills
Sub-Category: English Language Arts
Grades: Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade, Post secondary
Woodcock-Johnson IV - Math
Woodcock-Johnson IV, sold by Riverside Insights, includes individually-adminstered tests of achievement designed to measure strengths and weaknesses and diagnose learning abilities. In addition to mathematics, the WJ IV assesses oral language, reading, and writing.
Category: Academic Knowledge and Skills
Sub-Category: Math
Grades: < 3 Years, Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade, Post secondary
Youth Purpose Scale/Claremont Purpose Scale
This scale measures three dimensions of purpose: goal directedness, personal meaning, and beyond-the-self orientation. Purpose is operationalized by the developers of the scale as a long-term, forward looking intention to accomplish meaningful aims. Each of the 12 items has a Likert style response, but the scale items are unique to each question causing a slower response time which can lead to a more accurate measure.
Category: Student Well-Being
Sub-Category: Social-Emotional Competence
Grades: 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade
Zarit Burden Inventory (ZBI)
The Zarit Burden Inventory (ZBI) is a self-report instrument that measures the level of burden that principal caregivers experience. Originally developed for caregivers of persons with dementia, ZBI is now used with various types of caregivers, including parents of children with health, behavioral, and developmental problems. The current full version, ZBI-22, has 22 items, each using a 5-point Likert-type scale. Shorter versions exist; see Yu et al. (2019) in the psychometric references below.
Category: Home and Community
Sub-Category: Parenting
Grades: < 3 Years, Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade, Post secondary
ZooU
ZooU is a game/performance based SEL assessment tool for students in grades 2 - 4. It is published and sold by Centervention, which also publishes other game-based assessments Zoo Academy (grades K-1), SS Grin (grades 3-5) Hall of Heroes (grades 6-8), and Stories in Motion (for K-5 students with autism).
Category: Student Well-Being
Sub-Category: Social-Emotional Competence
Grades: 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade