Brief Description

The Rutter Behavior Checklist (Teacher’s Form) consists of 26 statements used to assess the behavior of school-aged children based on teacher observation. Teachers are asked to evaluate how accurately each statement applies to the student by selecting one of three options: “very much” (score = 2), “somewhat” (score = 1), or “not at all” (score = 0). The instrument corresponds to the parent form and allows for comparative assessment.

Purpose

The purpose of the checklist is to identify school-aged children who exhibit behavioral difficulties, hyperactivity, or other disorders (e.g., neurosis, conduct disorder, developmental disorder, or mixed disorder), as these manifest within the school environment according to teacher evaluation.

Scoring Method

The total score is calculated by summing responses across the 26 items, with a maximum possible score of 52. The items are grouped into specific diagnostic indicators as follows:
(a) Conduct disorder: items 1, 6, 10, 17, 23
(b) Hyperactivity: items 4, 8, 13, 16
(c) Developmental disorder: item 24
A child is considered at risk when the sum of these indicators exceeds a certain threshold.

Validity

The validity of the Greek adaptation has been evaluated through comparisons between the original sample (N = 603), a representative sample (N = 255), and a clinical sample (N = 28) drawn from a child psychiatry service. The results support the checklist’s discriminant validity.

Reliability

Test–retest reliability was high, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of r = 0.94 for teachers who reassessed the same children after one month.

Data Analysis and Use

Total scores and subscale indicators can be used for the early identification of students with emotional or behavioral difficulties in educational settings. The tool is particularly useful in school psychology, educational diagnostics, and intervention planning.

References

Roussou, A. (Ed.). (2002). Psychological issues in education and mental health practice and research. Athens: Ellinika Grammata.
Papadopoulou, R., Bada, K., Micheloyannakis, I., Makaronis, G., & Pandelakis, S. (1981). Psychiatric disorders in 6–8 year-old children in the greater Athens area. Bibliotheca Psychiatrica, 160, 92–100.
Rotsika, V., Papatheodorou, R., Pechlivanidou, A., & Sinti, T. (2002). Psychiatric disorders and academic performance. Psychological Issues, 13, 211–229.
Rutter, M., Tizard, J., & Whitmore, K. (1970). Education, Health and Behaviour. London: Longmans.