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robust in distinguishing between referred and non-referred mother-child dyads than they are in distinguishing between referred and non-referred father-child dyads. Further research will be important in understanding the differences between the use of DPICS II with mothers and fathers.
Convergent validity describes the correlation between the observational data and measures that are expected to relate to it. Several of the DPICS II summary variables correlated with scores on self-report measures used to assess children with behavior problems and their parents, supporting the convergent validity of the coding system. Both Child Compliance and child Inappropriate Behavior correlated significantly with the ECBI Intensity score. These DPICS II variables, child Compliance and child Inappropriate Behavior, also correlated significantly with the Child Domain score on the PSI. The finding that child Prosocial Behavior was not associated with these measures is not surprising given that neither the ECBI nor the PSI specifically measure prosocial behavior in children. In fact, these findings support the discriminant validity of the child Prosocial variable.
Father Inappropriate Behavior was positively and significantly correlated with the ECBI Intensity score, suggesting a relationship between a father's ratings of his child's negative behavior and his own negative behavior toward the child. Father Inappropriate Behavior was also significantly correlated with the PLOC-SF score, suggesting a positive relationship between a father's perception of his lack of control over his child's behavior and his own negative behavior toward the child. In addition, a small but significant, negative correlation was found between father Total Commands and the Parent Domain