What is the difference between the DESSA and the DESSA-mini?

Overview

This article discusses the differences between a DESSA assessment and a DESSA-mini screener, including the purposes and recommended uses of each measure.

What is the difference between the DESSA and the DESSA-mini?

The DESSA and the DESSA-mini are measures of social and emotional competence of students in grades K-12. Specifically, the DESSA 2 and DESSA 2 mini forms are used with students in grades K-8 while the DESSA-HSE and DESSA-HSE mini forms are used with students in grades 9-12. We use the terms DESSA and DESSA-mini to collectively refer to these forms.

The primary difference between these measures is that the DESSA-mini is designed to be a screener of social and emotional competence. A screener allows for a quick and efficient snapshot of one or more students' overall social and emotional competence. As such, it can serve as a baseline needs assessment tool to determine how many students within a population might be in need of social and emotional instruction.

Additionally, the DESSA-mini can be used as a repeated measure for use in ongoing evaluation of improvements in overall social and emotional competence (i.e., progress monitoring), as well as serve as an overall outcome measure for the impact of social and emotional instruction and programming efforts. 

In contrast, the DESSA is designed to be a detailed assessment of social and emotional competencies, providing specific and actionable information about the strengths and needs of children across key social and emotional competency domains. Although the specific competencies measured differ slightly depending on the grade level form used, the DESSA assessments generally measure the social and emotional domains of Optimistic Thinking, Self-Awareness, Self-Management (includes Goal-Directed Behavior), Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision Making (includes Personal Responsibility and Decision Making). The DESSA provides educators and staff with information that can directly lead to differentiated instruction for individual students as well as classrooms or groups of students.  

Like the DESSA-mini, the DESSA can also be used to examine changes in social and emotional competence over time and as an overall outcome measure for the impact of social and emotional instruction and programming.

For more information on the DESSA and DESSA-mini, please refer to the technical manuals.