Evaluating the Factor Validity of the Children's Organizational Skills Scale in Youth with ADHD

Abstract

Children and adolescents with ADHD often have difficulties with organization, time management, and planning (OTMP) skills, and these skills are a common target of intervention. A limited array of tools for measuring these abilities in youth is available, and one of the most prominent measures is the Children's Organizational Skills Scale (COSS). Although the COSS fills an important need, a replication of the COSS factor structure outside of initial measure development has not been conducted in any population. Given that the COSS is frequently used in ADHD research, the current study evaluated the factor structure of the parent-rated COSS in a sample (N = 619) of adolescents with ADHD. Results indicated that the original factor structure could be replicated, although the use of item parcels appeared to affect model fit statistics. An alternative bi-factor model was also tested that did not require the use of parcels, with results suggesting similar model fit in comparison to the original factor structure. Exploratory validity tests indicated that the domain-general factor of the bi-factor model appears related to broad executive functioning abilities.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: Stephen J. Molitor declares he has no conflict of interest. Joshua M. Langberg declares he has no conflict of interest. Steven W. Evans declares he has no conflict of interest. Melissa R. Dvorsky declares she has no conflict of interest. Elizaveta Bourchtein declares she has no conflict of interest. Laura D. Eddy declares she has no conflict of interest. Zoe R. Smith declares she has no conflict of interest. Lauren E. Oddo declares she has no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1

Original 3-factor Structure Proposed by Abikoff & Gallagher (2009)

Figure 2

Proposed Bi-factor Model