Description

The Arc’s Self-Determination Scale (SDS) is a measurement tool designed to assess the capacity and skills of self-determination in individuals with developmental disabilities, mainly adolescents and young adults. The scale was developed by Michael Wehmeyer and his colleagues and is widely used in educational and clinical settings.

Purpose

The main purpose of The Arc’s Self-Determination Scale is to measure self-determination in individuals with developmental disabilities. Specifically, the scale aims to:
Assess decision-making and problem-solving skills.
Measure autonomy and the ability for self-direction.
Evaluate psychological empowerment and self-esteem.
Identify the goals and preferences of individuals.

Analysis

The analysis of data from The Arc’s Self-Determination Scale includes various statistical methods to ensure the reliability and validity of the tool:
Factor Analysis: Used to examine the factor structure of the tool and confirm that the different questions are correctly categorized into the subscales of self-determination.
Reliability: The internal consistency of the SDS subscales is examined using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient.
Validity: Tested through comparisons with other valid measures of self-determination and related psychological parameters to ensure that the tool accurately measures self-determination.

Calibration

The calibration of the SDS includes the following steps:
Data Collection from Representative Samples: Data are collected from individuals with developmental disabilities to ensure the generalizability of the results.
Distribution Analysis: The distribution of scores is examined to determine whether the scores are normally distributed and representative of individuals’ self-determination skills.
Establishment of Normative Values: Normative values and percentiles are developed for interpreting results, allowing for comparisons of self-determination across different populations and conditions.

References

Wehmeyer, M. L. (1995). The Arc’s Self-Determination Scale: Procedural guidelines. Arlington, TX: The Arc National Headquarters.
Wehmeyer, M. L., & Kelchner, K. (1995). The Arc’s Self-Determination Scale. Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 30(4), 291–303.
Wehmeyer, M. L. (1996). Self-determination as an educational outcome: Why is it important to children, youth and adults with disabilities? In D. J. Sands & M. L. Wehmeyer (Eds.), Self-determination across the life span: Independence and choice for people with disabilities (pp. 15–34). Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.
Wehmeyer, M. L., Agran, M., & Hughes, C. (1998). Teaching self-determination to students with disabilities: Basic skills for successful transition. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.