Analysis

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ-T) for teachers is an assessment tool used to evaluate the psychological characteristics and challenges that children face within the school environment. The SDQ-T is designed to provide a concise overview of a student’s strengths and difficulties, based on the teacher’s observations and experience. It consists of 25 items covering five core areas: Emotional problems, Conduct problems, Hyperactivity and inattention, Peer relationship difficulties, and Prosocial behavior.

Purpose

The main purpose of the SDQ-T is to provide a clear and reliable assessment of students’ psychological wellbeing, based on their behavior and interactions in the school setting. This tool aims to support teachers and mental health professionals in identifying psychological and emotional issues that may affect students’ academic and social development. By evaluating different domains, the SDQ-T allows for a better understanding of children’s needs and helps in formulating appropriate intervention strategies.

Scoring

Scoring of the SDQ-T is based on teachers’ responses to the 25 questions, which are distributed across five domains. Each item is rated on a Likert scale from 0 to 2 (where 0 = “not true,” 1 = “somewhat true,” and 2 = “certainly true”). The results for each domain are summed to provide an overall picture of a student’s emotional and behavioral challenges. Total scores are compared against predefined criteria or reference charts to determine whether the student’s difficulties fall within the normal range or require additional support.

References

Goodman, R. (1997). The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: A Research Note. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 38, 581–586.
Goodman, R., Meltzer, H., & Bailey, V. (1998). The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: A pilot study on the validity of the self-report version. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 7, 125–130.