Exploratory factor analysis of the social skills improvement system (SSIS) for autistic children: Implications for use and educational placement

Danielle Nader, Brian Dunlop, Brianne Tomaszewski, Ann M. Sam, Kara Hume, Mashael Aljuaid, Samuel L. Odom

April

2023

From the abstract:

The Social Skills Improvement System Rating Scales (SSIS-RS) evaluates three domains of social functioning: social skills, problem behaviors, and academic competence. The SSIS-RS is a widely used social skills assessment for autistic children, but the validity of this measure for use with this heterogeneous population has yet to be confirmed. Using data from a previous large-scale investigation by the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder, this study explored the factor structure of the SSIS-RS, examined how autistic children were rated using the SSIS-RS, and evaluated how scores on the SSIS-RS were related to special education placement.

Discussion of results includes implications for teacher interpretations of SSIS-RS scores, recommendations for modifications to the measure, and insights about educational placement and inclusive programming.

Citation

Nader, D., Dunlop, B., Tomaszewski, B., Sam, A.M., Hume, K., Aljuaid, M., Odom, S.L.; Exploratory factor analysis of the social skills improvement system (SSIS) for autistic children: Implications for use and educational placement. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Vol. 104, April 2023; 102144, ISSN 1750-9467; 10.1016/j.rasd.2023.102144.