What populations were used as norms for the DESSA?

Overview

The DESSA screeners and assessments are nationally standardized, norm-referenced behavior rating scales. This article provides an overview of the normative samples for each of the DESSA assessments. 

What populations were used as norms for the DESSA?

In accordance with standards promulgated by the American Educational Research Association, the American Psychological Association, and the National Council on Measurement in Education (AERA, 2014), we normed the DESSA assessment tools through a carefully prescribed method to ensure the data collection procedures resulted in a large, diverse standardization sample that closely approximated the United States population of K-12 youth with respect to important demographic characteristics. These demographic characteristics include age/grade, gender, geographic region of residence, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status (free or reduced price lunch eligibility), and special education status. Across the DESSA assessments, ratings have been collected from hundreds of schools and programs across all 50 states in the US. This ensured a wide variety of youth were included for the generation of norms.

More detailed information on the development and standardization process can be found in Chapter 2 of each assessment's technical manual.

DESSA 2

The DESSA 2 normative sample includes a total of 1,550 students rated by a teacher or out-of-school time program staff member. The sample was collected during the 2023-2024 school year and closely approximates the kindergarten through 8th grade population of the U.S. with respect to grade/age, gender, geographic region of residence, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status (free or reduced price lunch eligibility), and special education status. 

DESSA K-8 (First Edition)

The DESSA K-8 normative sample includes a total of 2,494 children (parents and guardians provided ratings for 1,244 children; teachers and out-of-school staff provided ratings for 1,250 children). The sample was collected during the 2005-2006 school year and closely approximated the kindergarten through 8th grade population of the U.S. with respect to age, gender, geographic region, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. 

DESSA-HSE

The DESSA-HSE normative sample includes a total of 1,162 youths across grades 9–12 rated by an educator (school-based teachers and teacher aides provided ratings on 918 youths, while out-of-school time and other program staff contributed the remaining 244 ratings). The sample was collected during the 2016-2018 school years and closely approximated the 9th-12th grade population of the U.S. with respect to age/grade, gender, geographic region of residence, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. 

DESSA-MSE SSR 

The DESSA-MSE SSR normative sample includes a total of 1,350 youth across grades 6–8. The sample was collected during the 2022-2023 school year and closely approximated the 6th-8th grade population of the U.S. with respect to age/grade, gender, geographic region of residence, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. 

DESSA-HSE SSR 

The DESSA-HSE SSR normative sample includes a total of 700 youth across grades 9–12. The sample was collected during the 2016-2018 school year and closely approximated the 9th-12th grade population of the U.S. with respect to age/grade, gender, geographic region of residence, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status.