What does the McGhee-Mangrum Inventory of School Adjustment measure?

Taken from the MISA Technical Manual: The MISA is a 50-item rating scale appropriate for use by counselors, psychologists and others who want to assess a student’s social adjustment. Results can be used as part of a comprehensive evaluation to assist with educational programming decisions. The MISA assists in communication with parents and professionals about important social/emotional problems affecting educational performance. It also aids in documentation of meaningful academic, behavioral and emotional problems that warrant referral for special education testing. The MISA contains five 10-item scales: Aggressive Behavior Scale — measures physical aggression and hostility. Students who score high on this scale will frequently engage in physical fights, have low frustration tolerance, and are characteristically angry or hostile in interactions with others. Anxiety Scale — measures symptoms of anxiety and lack of self-confidence. High scores on this scale are associated with frequent worry physical complaints, nervousness and feelings of inferiority. Attention and Academic Problems Scale — assesses basic attention span and difficulties with basic academic tasks. Students with high scores on this scale have difficulty maintaining focus on tasks, are easily distractible, frequently do not complete assignments, and avoid academic tasks that require sustained attention. Hyperactivity and Impulsivity Scale — assesses excessive motor behavior and impulsive acts. Students who score high on this scale have difficulty remaining seated, and frequently engage in off-task behavior. Oppositional Behavior Scale — measures a student’s noncompliance with authority and rules. Students with high scores on this scale are likely to have frequent conflicts with teachers, and often will violate school regulations.