An Initial Study of the Emotional and Behavioral Characteristics of Black Students School Identified as Emotionally Disturbed

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Bibliographic Details
Title: An Initial Study of the Emotional and Behavioral Characteristics of Black Students School Identified as Emotionally Disturbed
Language: English
Authors: Lambert, Matthew C., Katsiyannis, Antonis, Epstein, Michael H., Cullinan, Douglas
Source: Behavioral Disorders. Feb 2022 47(2):108-117.
Availability: SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 10
Publication Date: 2022
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Student Characteristics, African American Students, Emotional Disturbances, Student Behavior, Psychological Patterns, Racial Differences, Disproportionate Representation, Affective Behavior
DOI: 10.1177/01987429211038022
ISSN: 0198-7429
Abstract: For years, the research and policy focus on Black students with emotional disturbance (ED) has been on racial disproportionality. The disproportionality issue has sparked professional debate and raised major questions about racial bias, cultural fairness, appropriateness of assessment instruments, the adequacy of special education programs, poverty, exposure to risk factors, and research approaches. Unfortunately, minimal progress has been made on understanding the overrepresentation of Black students in ED programs. The purpose of the present study was to initiate research on the emotional and behavioral functioning of Black students with ED, by comparing the teacher-completed ratings from the "Scales for Assessing Emotional Disturbance" for Black students with ED (n = 139), Black students without ED (n = 421), White students with ED (n = 271), and White students without ED (n = 1,218). The results demonstrated that: (1) Black students with ED were judged to demonstrate significantly higher levels of emotional and behavioral problems than their Black and White peers without ED; and (2) Black students with ED differed minimally from White students with ED. Research limitations, directions for future research, and implications for assessment and service delivery are discussed.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2022
Accession Number: EJ1324167
Database: ERIC
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Abstract:For years, the research and policy focus on Black students with emotional disturbance (ED) has been on racial disproportionality. The disproportionality issue has sparked professional debate and raised major questions about racial bias, cultural fairness, appropriateness of assessment instruments, the adequacy of special education programs, poverty, exposure to risk factors, and research approaches. Unfortunately, minimal progress has been made on understanding the overrepresentation of Black students in ED programs. The purpose of the present study was to initiate research on the emotional and behavioral functioning of Black students with ED, by comparing the teacher-completed ratings from the "Scales for Assessing Emotional Disturbance" for Black students with ED (n = 139), Black students without ED (n = 421), White students with ED (n = 271), and White students without ED (n = 1,218). The results demonstrated that: (1) Black students with ED were judged to demonstrate significantly higher levels of emotional and behavioral problems than their Black and White peers without ED; and (2) Black students with ED differed minimally from White students with ED. Research limitations, directions for future research, and implications for assessment and service delivery are discussed.
ISSN:0198-7429
DOI:10.1177/01987429211038022