Italian Adaptation of the Diagnostic Adaptive Behavior Scale: Application of the Best Practices for Translating and Adapting Tests

BACKGROUND: The presence during the developmental period of significant limitations in adaptive behavior is an essential component along with deficits in intellectual functioning for diagnosing intellectual disability. Only the Diagnostic Adaptive Behavior Scale (DABS) specifically assesses the required significant limitations in adaptive behavior. The DABS allows measuring the three adaptive behavior domains of conceptual, practical, and social skills, in individuals aged 4 to 21. This paper aims to present the process of translation/adaptation of the DABS for the Italian culture/country and describes the best practices in adapting a test across cultures/countries. METHODS: A six-step procedure was followed: (1) translation/adaptation of the original DABS into Italian; (2) consolidation of the translation/adaptation and preparation of the Preliminary Translation; (3) validation of the Preliminary Translation; (4) revision/adjustment and preparation of the Pretest Translation; (5) field-testing of the Pretest Translation; and (6) revision/ adjustment and preparation of the Final Translation of the DABS Italian version. Two different committees were involved and were composed of members with competencies in the development/adaptation of psychological tests, in the target construct (i.e., adaptive behavior), in the administration of measures assessing the target construct, in the target populations/languages (i.e., American and Italian), and in the target individuals (i.e., with deficits in adaptive behavior). Furthermore, a field-test was conducted with potential test users. RESULTS: The results of the translation/adaptation process described herein present evidence that it resulted in a valid DABS Italian version. It can be said that the final item pool best represented the substantive meaning of the original DABS items in a linguistic style that was understandable and simple while capturing behaviors that can be observed/measured in the Italian cultural context. CONCLUSIONS: Following the best practices in translating/adapting tests, we developed the DABS Italian version with evidence of psychometric properties as excellent as those of the original DABS.