Overview
The Behavioural and Emotional Rating Scale 2nd Edition (BERS-2) is a strength‐based approach to assessment and provides an overall index of a child’s strengths and competencies from three perspectives: self, parent and teacher. Items cover domains such as interpersonal strengths, functioning at school, affective strength, intrapersonal strength, family involvement and career strength.
Psychometric propoerties
| Property | Definition | BERS-2 |
| Internal consistency | The degree to which similar items within a scale correlate with each other | Strong internal consistency reported by Epstein (2004) |
| Construct validity | Degree to which the questionnaire measures what it is supposed to | Good construct validity reported by Epstein (2004) |
| Test-retest reliability | Degree to which the same respondents have the same score after period of time when trait shouldn't have changed | Excellent test-retest reliability reported by Epstein (2004) for all three informants |
Suitability
The BERS-2 can be completed by children and young people aged 11-18, and by parents/carers and teachers about children aged 5 to 18.
Translation
A Spanish translation is available here.
Administration
The BERS-2 is designed to be completed in approximately 10-15 minutes by children, young people, parents and teachers.
Scoring and interpretation
The BERS-2 is comprised of 52 items (teacher form) and 58 items (parent and youth forms). The items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale from 0 (not at all) to 3 (very much). The scales are composed of an overall Strength Index that provides a single summary score of strengths and five subscales: Interpersonal Strength, Family Involvement, Intrapersonal Strength, School Functioning, and Affective Strength. The five subscales have a mean standard score of 10 and a standard deviation of 3. The sum of the subscale standard scores is converted into the Strength Index that has a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 15.
Terms of use
There is a cost associated with the use of this measure. For info, please see 'pricing' here: https://www.parinc.com/Products/Pkey/18
Further information
https://www.parinc.com/Products/Pkey/18
References
Buckley, J.A. & Epstein, M.H. (2004) The Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale-2 (BERS-2): Providing a Comprehensive Approach to Strength-Based Assessment. Contemporary School Psychology, 9, 21.
Epstein, M. H. (2004). Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale-2nd Edition: A strengths-based approach to assessment. Austin, TX: PRO-ED.